From the Mailbag: Fecal Transplants and Full-Fat Dairy

By Posted October 6, 2016

Dear Living Well Daily Reader,

You’ve got questions…

We’ve got answers!

Last week, we discussed natural solutions for treating psoriasis and got an overwhelming number of reader responses. Thanks so much for writing in. We will be vetting those responses and will share reader tips on how to alleviate this uncomfortable skin condition in an upcoming mailbag edition of Living Well Daily. Stay tuned!

If you have a psoriasis tip you’d like to share, send it to nmoore@lfb.org.

This week, we will be discussing fecal transplants and how they may be leading the way in treating a common bowel infection. We’ll also talk about how eating full-fat dairy may reduce your diabetes risk.

Let’s dive in…

Poop Transplants Save Lives?

Hey, Natalie,

My brother-in-law suffers from recurrent intestinal infections. His doctor said it’s due to a bacteria called C. diff, and it’s really hard to treat. He’s been hospitalized several times because of the infection and has suffered through many courses of antibiotics but has experienced no relief. Last week, his doctor suggested he get a fecal transplant. Do you know how they do this? Moreover, do they actually work for treating C.diff?

Thanks,

Tim W.

Interesting questions, Tim.

Clostridium difficile is a bacterium that can cause serious gastric symptoms including diarrhea, abdominal cramping and even life-threatening inflammation of the colon. C. difficile infections are usually contracted after antibiotic use and most commonly affect older people in hospitals or care facilities. However, these infections are now showing up in folks without a history of being in health care facilities or antibiotic use.

Just as in your brother-in-law’s case, C. diff sufferers are typically given antibiotics that target the specific bacteria that cause the infection. However, these additional antibiotics don’t always kill the infection — even with multiple courses.

That’s where the poop comes in…

In recent years, scientist and doctors have performed an unconventional operation called a fecal transplant. During this procedure, “healthy” stool from a donor is implanted in the colon of the C. difficile sufferer. This is done via colonoscopy or nasogastric tube, and it uses the donor’s stool to replenish healthy gut bacteria.

Research shows that fecal transplants have a success rate higher than 90 percent for treating dangerous C. difficile infections. Plus, they don’t subject the body to more antibiotics, which can kill off the beneficial bacteria in your stomach.

So if your brother-in-law goes forward with the procedure, there’s a great chance that he will recover from this debilitating and painful condition and hopefully be able to say goodbye to good-gut-bacteria-destroying antibiotics.

Full-Fat Freedom

Dear Natalie,

A friend in my card circle told me that eating and drinking full-fat dairy products can decrease your risk for diabetes. Is this true?

Thanks,

Libby B.

Thanks for your question, Libby.

Yes, this is true. According to a recent study, full-fat dairy products have been linked to a lower risk of diabetes.

The study, which is published in the journal Circulation, involved 3,333 participants who were monitored for both biomarkers for dairy fat in their blood and the development of diabetes. At the end of the study, the data showed that folks who eat the most dairy fat had about a 50 percent lower risk of developing diabetes.

The researchers weren’t able to establish that eating dairy fat was the exact reason why these folks experienced the decreased risk, but the results certainly show that dairy fat may have protective effects against diabetes.

So if you’re going to eat dairy, be sure to enjoy the full-fat type.

Thanks for your questions! Keep them coming. Send all questions to nmoore@lfb.org

Live well,

Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily Insider

Sources

^[1] Fecal Transplantation (Bacteriotherapy)

^[2] Circulating Biomarkers of Dairy Fat and Risk of Incident Diabetes Mellitus Among US Men and Women in Two Large Prospective Cohorts