AJG Special Food as Medicine Issue Includes Pickle Juice Study, Guide to Alpha-Gal Meat Allergy, Digestive Health in Sexual and Gender Minority Populations and More

In a special Food as Medicine issue of The American Journal of Gastroenterology, Co-Editors-in-Chief Jasmohan S. Bajaj, MD, MS, FACG, and Millie D. Long, MD, MPH, FACG, have selected clinical studies, analyses, and reviews that aim to acknowledge the role of diet in disease management and prevention.

“The theme of our ‘Food as Medicine’ special issue is multidisciplinary, representing a true intersection between health care disciplines such as gastroenterology, nutrition, and complementary medicine, while avoiding the pitfalls of ‘pseudoscience’ that often plague this field,” the editors write. Featured topics include complications of alcohol, food insecurity, pediatric IBD, disorders of gut-brain interaction, and food-based interventions.

Several articles are highlighted below and access to any articles from this issue, or past issues, is available upon request. The College is also able to connect members of the press with study authors or outside experts who can comment on the articles.

Pickle Juice Intervention for Cirrhotic Cramps Reduction: The PICCLES Randomized Controlled Trial
Tapper, et al.

Muscle cramps are a frequent symptom experienced by cirrhosis patients. In this RCT, authors found that small doses of consumed pickle juice reduced symptoms and the severity of muscle cramps among patients with cirrhosis.

Visual Abstract: https://lww.com/_layouts/15/oaks.journals/ImageView.aspx?k=ajg:2022:06000:00019&i=ga&year=2022&issue=06000&article=00019
Author Podcast: https://gi.org/journals-publications/podcasts/?search=tapper

Suddenly Steakless: A Gastroenterologist’s Guide to Managing Alpha-gal Allergy
McGill, et al.

In this article, authors describe how to diagnose and manage alpha-gal allergy, which can manifest in GI symptoms in response to mammalian products.

Digestive Health in Sexual and Gender Minority Populations
Vélez, et al.

In this review, authors discuss the multitude of factors that can influence health outcomes in sexual and gender minority populations. Increased exposure to the challenges facing SGM patients can better position the GI field to provide the best care possible. 

About the American College of Gastroenterology
Founded in 1932, the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) is an organization with an international membership of over 17,000 individuals from 86 countries. The College’s vision is to be the preeminent professional organization that champions the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of digestive disorders, serving as a beacon to guide the delivery of the highest quality, compassionate, and evidence-based patient care. The mission of the College is to enhance the ability of our members to provide world class care to patients with digestive disorders and advance the profession through excellence and innovation based upon the pillars of Patient Care, Education, Scientific Investigation, Advocacy and Practice Management. www.gi.org