Top Story

• Study links colorectal cancer recurrence with diet
  A study of people who had colorectal cancer has identified a link between high consumption of carbohydrates and recurrence of the disease. The study looked at more than 1,000 adults who had been treated for stage 3 cancer with surgery and chemotherapy. The study does not prove a causal link between high-carb diets and cancer recurrence. The Washington Post (11/19)

Guide to Healthy Living

• Putting a calorie count on the average Thanksgiving feast
  According to widespread belief, the average American eats more than 4,500 calories on Thanksgiving, but this analysis suggests the true figure is likely more moderate. When people consume more than 1,500 calories in a single sitting, the gut secretes a hormone that leads to nausea, and large meals take much longer than smaller ones to leave the stomach -- as long as eight to 12 hours. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)/Thanksgiving Help Line blog (11/16)

• Study: Living in U.S. appears to raise odds of obesity
  Grandchildren of Mexican immigrants in the U.S. had a threefold increased risk of being obese in adulthood compared with similar people living in Mexico, researchers reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Data on 3,244 participants showed that 32% of men and 36% of women with immigrant grandparents were obese, compared with only 17% and 14% in their Mexican counterparts who did not have ties with the U.S. Reuters (11/15)

• Vegetables find their place on the dessert tray
  Vegetables increasingly are used in desserts beyond carrot cake and sweet potato pie, according to Food Technology magazine, which says the trend has led to treats such as tomato sorbet and chocolate-beet baked goods. Vegetables can be used in place of some high-fat ingredients and offer a natural alternative to artificial colorings. United Press International (11/18)

• Study: Children in poorer areas have higher obesity risk
  A study in Social Science & Medicine found children living in middle-class areas were 17% more likely to become obese, while those in poor communities had a 28% increased risk of obesity, compared with children in more affluent neighborhoods. Neighborhood-wide initiatives as well as individual-level programs are needed to help address childhood obesity in the country, researchers said. HealthDay News (11/16)

• A nonceliac perspective on eating gluten-free
  Sarah Croessmann of Baltimore is one of the 1.6 million people who adhere to a gluten-free diet without being diagnosed with celiac disease, a figure reported in The American Journal of Gastroenterology. Croessmann says her gastrointestinal symptoms went away after starting a gluten-free diet, but she says the lifestyle -- promoted by celebrities and often perceived as more healthful than a diet containing wheat -- is expensive and can be higher in calories. The Baltimore Sun (11/14)

Diagnosis & Treatment

• Data show NAFLD without cirrhosis is a growing problem
  Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a risk factor for liver cancer even in patients 65 and older who do not have cirrhosis, according to a database review by University of Missouri researchers. According to the data, NAFLD-linked cancer without cirrhosis is growing at a faster rate than cancer linked to cirrhosis. MedPage Today (free registration) (11/13)

• Study: Rifaximin successfully treats recurrent C. diff
  Patients with recurrent Clostridium difficile infections responded to rifaximin, and after 12 weeks of treatment 53% had not had a relapse, according to a study from Helsinki University Central Hospital. All patients had about four unsuccessful courses of antibiotics before taking rifaximin, and the researchers said previous use of metronidazole or vancomycin probably played a role in curing the infection. Medscape (free registration)/Reuters (11/14)

• Study: Resistant starch supplements offer no CRC protection
  Lynch syndrome patients given resistant starch did not reduce their long-term risk of colorectal cancer, according to Newcastle University researchers who said the supplements did not replicate protection that may come from eating a high-fiber diet. Data showed people who took resistant starch for fewer than two years actually had a higher risk for colorectal cancer, although patients who took the supplement for more than two years had a risk similar to those on placebo treatment. MedWire News (U.K.) (11/15)

Clinical Trial Monitor

A selection of U.S. based clinical trials seeking participants

• A Prospective Study for the Assessment of Recurrence Risk in Stage II Colon Cancer Patients Using ColoPrint (PARSC)
  California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Washington, Austria, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom. clinicaltrials.gov

• A Safety and Efficacy Study of Daikenchuto (TU-100) to Treat Crohn's Disease
  California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Utah. clinicaltrials.gov

• Hepatitis C Translating Initiatives for Depression Into Effective Solutions (HEPTIDES)
  Arkansas, California, Missouri, Texas. clinicaltrials.gov

• Safety and Efficacy Study of VP20621 for Prevention of Recurrent Clostridium Difficile Infection
  California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Spain, Switzerland. clinicaltrials.gov

• Right Sided Colon Polyp Miss Rate: Impact Of Retroflexion In The Right Colon
  Missouri, Wisconsin. clinicaltrials.gov

Editor's Note

• Digestive Health SmartBrief will not publish Friday
  In observance of Thanksgiving, the Digestive Health SmartBrief will not be published Friday, Nov. 23. Enjoy the holiday!

The Last Word

News and information from the American College of Gastroenterology

• Tips to ease belching, bloating and flatulence
  Many Americans may likely overindulge during the long holiday weekend. The types of food people eat coupled by the urge to overeat can lead to abdominal bloating and gas. Although intestinal gas is unavoidable, you may be able to alleviate the symptoms by following some helpful tips.

SmartQuote

Nature never said to me: Do not be poor. Still less did she say: Be rich. Her cry to me was always: Be independent." --Nicolas Chamfort, French writer