Collagenous Colitis – What Is It And How To Treat It

In our last article, we talked about two common forms of inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, from a naturopathic perspective.

We discussed what it is, discovered where it comes from, and explored how to treat it.

However, we only briefly mentioned another manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease which has become increasingly common in recent years.

This type of inflammatory bowel disease is referred to as “collagenous colitis”.

What is this disease?

Why is it becoming more widespread?

And are there any naturopathic treatments for colitis, collagenous or otherwise?

These are some of the questions I’ve been asked by my clients.

I’m Dr. JJ, a naturopathic doctor located in Toronto, Ontario.

Over the years, I’ve provided naturopathic support for many digestive issues, including collagenous colitis.

Today, I’d like share some of the advice I give to them.

Keep reading to find out more.

What Is Collagenous Colitis?

Collagenous colitis is, like ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease.

However, it also falls under a subcategory of inflammatory bowel diseases known as “microscopic colitis”.

It shares this subcategory with one other disorder: lymphocytic colitis.

Microscopic colitis is distinct from ulcerative colitis in that its only detectable when your colon tissue is examined under a microscope.

With collagenous colitis, a layer of collagen develops within your colon.

Collagen is a protein and exists in large amounts naturally within your body.

It’s the stuff that gives your skin its elasticity and helps keep your joints and tendons working smoothly.

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With lymphocytic colitis, conversely, you’ll see an increase of white blood cells in your colon.

Some researchers think these two disorders are actually different phases of the same condition, but more research needs to be done on this.

What Are The Symptoms Of Collagenous Colitis?

Everyone experiences some intestinal distress every once in a while.

Perhaps you can recall a time when you ate too many sweets as a kid just to end up on the toilet all night.

Or maybe you’re living with another condition that causes frequent bowel movements, such as lactose intolerance or celiac disease.

However, the symptoms of collagenous colitis can be so painful and uncomfortable that they interfere with your daily activities, such as school, work, or family life.

Symptoms of collagenous colitis may include:

• Unexplained weight loss
• Abdominal/intestinal cramps, pain, or bloating
• Loss of bowel control (fecal incontinence)
• Nausea
• Frequent episodes of watery diarrhea
• Dehydration

Left untreated, the symptoms of collagenous colitis may worsen.

Findings from a 2007 research paper by Freeman et al. suggest that collagenous colitis has the potential to lead to serious colonic complications.

That’s why early identification and intervention is so important.

If you’re dealing with any of these symptoms, book an appointment with me and we can take a closer look to see if you might have collagenous colitis.

Causes Of Collagenous Colitis

A review in the World Journal Of Gastroenterology reports a heightened rate of certain autoimmune diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren’s syndrome, celiac disease, and a number of thyroid disorders, among those with collagenous colitis.

One of the papers they cited, from Histopathology, reports that between 17% and 40% of collagenous colitis patients also have one of the above listed conditions.

This is a much higher number than the general public.

For example, only 300,000 Canadians have celiac disease which accounts for fewer than 1% of the population.

Clearly there is a connection between collagenous colitis and autoimmune conditions, but more research is needed.

There has also been a connection between collagenous colitis and smoking.

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A 2011 study in the Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology concluded that smoking is a risk factor for collagenous colitis, and that smokers who develop the disease usually do so more than a decade earlier than their nonsmoking counterparts.

Researchers have also connected certain medications with collagenous colitis, including nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and proton pump inhibitors, according to a 2015 study from the American Journal Of Gastroenterology.

However, currently the cause of collagenous colitis is unknown.

Diagnosing Collagenous Colitis

If you believe you may have collagenous colitis, there are a few different methods to diagnose it.

Your doctor will need to order a colonoscopy, which will rule out a number of other disorders, including ulcerative colitis and colorectal cancer.

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Based on those results, your MD may also run an upper endoscopy, a procedure that sends a camera inside your body to look at your upper digestive tract, which includes your esophagus, stomach, and duodenum.

This will help to rule out celiac disease.

Other diagnostic tools may include a stool sample analysis, to help rule out any sort of infection, and a blood test to check for iron deficiency anemia or other nutritional deficiencies.

RELATED: Why Is Iron Deficiency So Common?

Naturopathic Treatments For Collagenous Colitis

When addressing collagenous colitis, we focus on lifestyle changes.

The first and most important goal is to relieve your diarrhea and restore control of your bowels.

Since these are the worst to deal with from both a comfort and a social perspective, this makes sense.

There are a few herbs and naturopathic supplements that may help to heal and repair your gut, reduce inflammation and shift your bowel movements from diarrhea to regular movements.

Depending on your unique health history and current condition, we may recommend a diet that’s:

• Gluten free
• Dairy free
• Low fat
• Low fibre
• Sugar free
• Caffeine free

At the same time, we’ll consider any medication you may currently be taking.

If you’re taking any medication currently known to trigger collagenous colitis symptoms, we may recommend you discuss a different medication or therapeutic approach with your MD.

We’ll also recommend you quit smoking, if you’re a smoker.

Quitting smoking is generally a good idea for your health, but as mentioned before, smoking is particularly linked with collagenous colitis.

A number of non naturopathic methods exist for treating collagenous colitis as well, including, in rare cases, surgery to remove your colon.

However, in some cases, lifestyle changes are enough to manage your collagenous colitis.

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According to a 2020 study by Rozich et al., lifestyle factors play a major role in the clinical outcomes of people with inflammatory bowel disease and colitis.

Questions? Ask Dr. JJ!

If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, and believe it may be collagenous colitis, contact me, Dr. JJ.

We’ll sit down together for an introductory session where I’ll take the time to understand your full health history and current conditions.

From there, we’ll talk about your current symptoms, how we can diagnose the problem, and what the possible treatments may be.

No matter your symptoms, you don’t need to suffer alone.

Contact my office today, and take your first steps toward a healthier, happier life.

Book your appointment with me, Dr. JJ, today, and let’s get to work on healing your gut.