Morning Sign Out at UCLA
  • Home
  • COVID-19
    • Origins
    • Risk Factors
    • Clinical Course and Symptoms
    • Current Research and Therapies
    • Vaccines
    • Testing Positive: The Next Steps
    • Quick Facts
  • Health & Wellness
  • Public Health
  • Research
  • Archives
    • Health & Wellness Archive
    • Public Health Archive
    • Research Archive
  • About Us
    • Officers
    • Who We Are
  • OUTREACH
    • Podcast
    • Translations
  • Get Involved
    • Apply
    • Contact Us

A Leading Cause of Inflammatory Bowel Disease May Be in Your Food

Picture
Eleanor Gorham
Edited by Nika Gladkov

December 28 2022
Health and Wellness
​Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects about 3.1 million patients in the United States (US). Worldwide, the number is around 10 million. Unlike most other diseases, IBD is more prevalent in industrialized countries, which is surprising because anti-disease measures such as large-scale sanitation are more prevalent in developing countries. High rates of sanitation have a strong correlation to low levels of infectious diseases globally. The high incidence of IBD in industrialized countries suggests that it is linked to chemicals prevalent due to industrialization. 

A group of doctors led by Liliana Sanmarco from Harvard Medical School recently published an article in May of 2021, “Identification of environmental factors that promote intestinal inflammation.” In their article, they investigate the connection between IBD and propyzamide, a chemical used to treat weeds and grasses in agricultural production. In order to test this connection, the group used zebrafish and mice as specimens to test the effects of propyzamide, along with computer simulations. 
​

Although IBD has a strong genetic basis, with 200 genes linked to IBD, dietary and environmental factors also significantly contribute to its development. One such factor is propyzamide. They specifically selected it from a group of 20 candidates because of its use as a pesticide on agricultural produce, such as fruits, vegetables, and personal gardens. Through their work Sanmarco’s team established that the broad use of propyzamide suggests that it may be the cause of many new and rising cases of IBD. 
Picture
Chronic diseases, like IBD, have higher incidences in industrialized countries than in developing countries.
Image Source: HansMartinPaul
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects about 3.1 million patients in the United States (US). Worldwide, the number is around 10 million. Unlike most other diseases, IBD is more prevalent in industrialized countries, which is surprising because anti-disease measures such as large-scale sanitation are more prevalent in developing countries. High rates of sanitation have a strong correlation to low levels of infectious diseases globally. The high incidence of IBD in industrialized countries suggests that it is linked to chemicals prevalent due to industrialization. 

A group of doctors led by Liliana Sanmarco from Harvard Medical School recently published an article in May of 2021, “Identification of environmental factors that promote intestinal inflammation.” In their article, they investigate the connection between IBD and propyzamide, a chemical used to treat weeds and grasses in agricultural production. In order to test this connection, the group used zebrafish and mice as specimens to test the effects of propyzamide, along with computer simulations. 
​

Although IBD has a strong genetic basis, with 200 genes linked to IBD, dietary and environmental factors also significantly contribute to its development. One such factor is propyzamide. They specifically selected it from a group of 20 candidates because of its use as a pesticide on agricultural produce, such as fruits, vegetables, and personal gardens. Through their work Sanmarco’s team established that the broad use of propyzamide suggests that it may be the cause of many new and rising cases of IBD. 
Featured Image Source: FelixMittermeier

RELATED ARTICLES

Vertical Divider
​Targeted Treatment of Endometriosis: More Insight into Progestin-based Therapy
Picture
Vertical Divider
​Looking to Build Muscle? Eat the Whole Egg, not Just the White
Picture
Vertical Divider
​Abortion Reversals: is Abortion Truly Permanent?
Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • COVID-19
    • Origins
    • Risk Factors
    • Clinical Course and Symptoms
    • Current Research and Therapies
    • Vaccines
    • Testing Positive: The Next Steps
    • Quick Facts
  • Health & Wellness
  • Public Health
  • Research
  • Archives
    • Health & Wellness Archive
    • Public Health Archive
    • Research Archive
  • About Us
    • Officers
    • Who We Are
  • OUTREACH
    • Podcast
    • Translations
  • Get Involved
    • Apply
    • Contact Us