COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE USE IN BRAZILIAN PATIENTS WITH INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE.

Researchers in Brazil studied how often patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), which includes treatments like acupuncture, herbal therapy, probiotics, and homeopathy. The study included 227 adults with either Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis from two major treatment centers in southeastern Brazil. Participants answered questions about whether they used CAM therapies, why they chose them, and how satisfied they were with the results.

The researchers found that only 12.8% of IBD patients reported using CAM treatments. The most common choices were tea and probiotics (each used by about 5% of patients), followed by omega-3 or glutamine supplements, homeopathy, and herbal therapies. Interestingly, patients who used CAM were generally satisfied with their experience, with more than half reporting positive results. The study found that patients were more likely to try CAM if they had a lower quality of life or had been diagnosed more recently with IBD.

What this means for IBD patients: While CAM use was relatively uncommon among Brazilian IBD patients in this study, those who did try these therapies generally found them helpful. If you're considering complementary treatments like acupuncture alongside your conventional IBD medications, it's important to discuss this with your gastroenterologist first, as some therapies may interact with your prescribed treatments. The study suggests that patients struggling with quality of life issues may be particularly interested in exploring these options. If you decide to pursue acupuncture or other CAM therapies, always seek a qualified, licensed practitioner with experience treating digestive conditions.

This cross-sectional study examined CAM utilization among 227 Brazilian IBD patients (126 Crohn's disease, 101 ulcerative colitis) from two southeastern referral centers. Mean age was 41.19±14.49 years, with most patients in clinical remission. CAM prevalence was notably low at 12.8%, with tea and probiotics being most common (5.29% each), followed by omega-3/glutamine (1.76%), homeopathy (0.88%), and herbal therapies (0.44%). Despite low utilization, patient satisfaction exceeded 50%. Logistic regression identified two significant predictors: regular or poor quality of life (OR 2.084; 95% CI 1.147-3.786, P=0.0159) and shorter disease duration (OR 0.956; 95% CI 0.918-0.995; P=0.0260). No significant difference in CAM use existed between disease types (P=0.1171). Clinical takeaway: Brazilian IBD patients demonstrate substantially lower CAM utilization compared to international cohorts, with quality of life impairment and recent diagnosis serving as primary motivators. Practitioners should proactively discuss CAM use, particularly with newly diagnosed patients experiencing quality of life challenges.