| If you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis you may be | | | | 1940s and 1950s. His findings convinced him that |
| interested to know that there is a connection | | | | 'disease begins in the bowel', in other words, what |
| between this and food intolerances, in particular, | | | | we eat plays a major part in the development of |
| allergy to wheat or dairy foodstuffs. | | | | many chronic conditions, including arthritis. |
| In a report from the UK Medical Research Council in | | | | De Coti-Marsh treated patients by using what he |
| 2001, it was stated that there is evidence from both | | | | called the 'Sanocell System.'' Judging the amount of |
| case reports and controlled studies that an | | | | toxic compounds (or food antigen) he believed to be |
| individualised diet, where offending foods are | | | | present within that food, based on observation and |
| identified and removed, can cause an improvement in | | | | case histories, he gave each food a value of 1-200, |
| rheumatoid arthritis. | | | | 200 being the most toxic to the body. His patients |
| What we are talking about here is an elimination diet: | | | | were given a Home Treatment Programme to follow, |
| removing virtually all the foods which might be | | | | and at each stage of progress they were allowed to |
| causing symptoms, to determine whether symptoms | | | | include in the diet all the foods below a certain |
| improve, and then re-introducing food one at a time | | | | number. Foods categorised by a higher number were |
| to identify which are causing the symptoms. | | | | not allowed. This was the elimination phase. As |
| An example of this is described by consultant | | | | patients progressed, the Sanocell System allowed for |
| rheumatologist Dr Gail Darlington in a study published | | | | the re-introduction of certain foods. It was an |
| in 1986. She undertook a controlled study of 6 | | | | individualised diet, supervised by de Coti-Marsh |
| weeks of dietary manipulation therapy in 53 | | | | himself. |
| rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. During the first | | | | Since the death of Charles de Coti-Marsh his Home |
| week the patients were only allowed to eat foods | | | | Treatment for arthritis continues to be promoted by |
| they were unlikely to be intolerant to. Other food | | | | The Arthritic Association. |
| items were then introduced one at a time to see | | | | As scientific knowledge has progressed, so The |
| whether any symptoms were elicited by the dietary | | | | Arthritic Association has presented its Home |
| challenge. Foods producing symptoms were then | | | | Treatment Programme for Arthritis in the context of |
| excluded from the diet. There were significant | | | | scientific literature; investigated and ratified by the |
| improvements in the exclusion diet group in | | | | medical profession. As such, the charity's health |
| comparison to the placebo diet group. | | | | programme has now been acknowledged to be a |
| Darlington went on to complete further clinical trials | | | | largely self-administered intervention based on the |
| and in 1993 published a table of foods most likely to | | | | three areas of diet, supplementation and physical |
| cause intolerance in patients with RA. The top five | | | | therapy. |
| were corn, wheat, bacon/pork, oranges and milk. | | | | If you would like to know how the Home Treatment |
| None of this would have been surprising to Charles | | | | programme can help you, please visit our website or |
| de Coti-Marsh, who undertook pioneering research | | | | call our Freephone number 0800 652 3188. |
| into the causes and treatment of arthritis in the | | | | |