Mesenteric panniculitis, also known as sclerosing mesenteritis, is a rare condition characterized by chronic inflammation affecting the mesentery. The mesentery, a continuous fold of tissue in your abdomen, is crucial for supporting your intestines and attaching them to the abdominal wall. While typically not life-threatening, mesenteric panniculitis can cause discomfort and impact your quality of life. This article provides a comprehensive overview of mesenteric panniculitis, including dietary and lifestyle recommendations to manage the condition.
Understanding Mesenteric Panniculitis
Mesenteric panniculitis damages and destroys fatty tissue in the mesentery, which can potentially lead to scarring over time. The specific cause remains unknown, but it may be related to autoimmune diseases, abdominal surgery, injury to your abdomen, bacterial infections, or vascular problems.
The condition is sometimes described in stages:
- Mesenteric lipodystrophy: The initial stage, where immune system cells replace fat tissue in the mesentery.
- Mesenteric panniculitis: The second stage, characterized by the infiltration of additional immune system cells and significant inflammation.
- Retractile mesenteritis: The third stage, where inflammation is accompanied by the formation of scar tissue in the mesentery.
It's important to note that mesenteric panniculitis is often misdiagnosed due to its rarity. Doctors may discover it incidentally during CT scans performed to investigate abdominal pain.
Symptoms of Mesenteric Panniculitis
Symptoms vary among individuals, ranging from no symptoms to severe and aggressive disease. When inflammation is present, the swelling can exert pressure on nearby organs, leading to abdominal pain.
Read also: Causes and Treatment of Mesenteric Lymphadenitis
Other common symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Feeling full quickly after eating
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Bloating
- Lump in your abdomen
- Fatigue
- Fever
Symptoms can last for weeks or months before subsiding.
Potential Causes and Risk Factors
Although the exact cause is unknown, mesenteric panniculitis is suspected to be a type of autoimmune disease, where the immune system mistakenly attacks the mesentery. Autoimmune diseases have genetic links, and individuals with mesenteric panniculitis often have relatives with autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn’s disease.
Inflammation may be triggered by damage to the abdomen, which can be caused by:
- Infections
- Surgery
- Some medicines
- Injuries
Cancer, including lymphoma, carcinoid tumors, colon cancer, kidney cancer, prostate cancer, melanoma, lung cancer, and stomach cancer, can also cause inflammation and thickening of the mesentery.
Read also: The Hoxsey Diet
Other related conditions include:
- Orbital pseudotumor
- Riedel thyroiditis
- Retroperitoneal fibrosis
- Sclerosing cholangitis
Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis often involves a CT scan to detect thickening or scarring in the mesentery. Blood tests may be conducted to check for markers of inflammation, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein levels. A biopsy may be performed to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment is not always necessary, and doctors may monitor symptoms and repeat CT scans to assess the condition's progression. In some cases, mesenteric panniculitis resolves on its own within a few weeks or months.
If symptoms are bothersome or cause complications, medication may be prescribed to reduce inflammation. Corticosteroids are frequently used, along with other medicines that suppress the immune system, such as:
- Azathioprine (Imuran)
- Colchicine (Colcrys)
- Cyclophosphamide
- Infliximab (Remicade)
- Naltrexone (Revia) at a low dose
- Pentoxifylline
- Thalidomide (Thalomid)
Surgery may be necessary to relieve symptoms in cases where inflammation leads to a blockage in the small intestine.
Read also: Walnut Keto Guide
The Mesentery and Functional Medicine
The mesentery plays wide-reaching roles in health. The mesenteric tissues are involved in immune, hormone, circulatory, and metabolic processes that allow them to contribute to the development of chronic conditions including aging, colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticular disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome.
Dietary Recommendations for Mesenteric Panniculitis
While there isn't a specific "mesenteric panniculitis diet," general dietary recommendations for inflammatory conditions often apply. An anti-inflammatory diet focuses on whole, unprocessed foods with no added sugar.
Here's a breakdown of dietary recommendations:
- Emphasize anti-inflammatory foods: A balanced diet incorporating anti-inflammatory foods, plant-based fibers, and adequate hydration can support mesentery health. This includes a variety of colorful vegetables and fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds, herbs, and spices.
- Prioritize fruits and vegetables: A diet high in fruits and vegetables is recommended. These foods are packed with antioxidants and nutrients that can combat inflammation.
- Limit pro-inflammatory foods: It's important to limit or avoid foods that promote inflammation, such as red meat, processed foods, added sugars, and refined carbohydrates (white bread, pasta, and rice).
- Hydrate adequately: Staying adequately hydrated by drinking plenty of filtered clean water helps to keep lymph flowing in the mesentery and maintains and impacts immune and inflammatory cytokines in the mesentery that promote innate immunity throughout the body. A general guideline is to drink between 0.5-1 ounce of water for each pound you weigh every day.
- Incorporate plant-based fibers: Plant-based anti-inflammatory foods such as leafy greens, berries, and omega-3-rich fatty fish like salmon provide nutrients that support a balanced inflammatory response and can help to maintain the health of the mesentery, microbiome, and gut lining.
- Consider specific intolerances: Some individuals may find that certain foods trigger their symptoms. Keeping a food diary and working with a registered dietitian can help identify any personal food sensitivities or intolerances.
- Limit sugar, dairy, caffeine, alcohol, and spicy/fried foods: As one doctor suggested, cutting out or limiting these items may be beneficial.
- Ensure adequate fiber intake: Fiber is important for digestive health.
- Address nutrient deficiencies: Since inflammation in the abdomen and gut can disrupt nutrient absorption, tests for nutrient deficiencies related to impaired gut absorption can help assess overall nutrient status.
Lifestyle Modifications
In addition to dietary changes, lifestyle modifications can play a significant role in managing mesenteric panniculitis:
- Stress management: Decreasing stress levels is crucial. Chronic stress can lead to dysbiosis, inflammation, and a weakened intestinal mucosal barrier. Practices like yoga, meditation, tai chi, and breath work can help manage stress.
- Regular exercise: Regular moderate physical activity helps you maintain healthy body weight and keeps metabolic factors like blood sugar and inflammation more balanced. Aim for at least 3 hours per week.
- Adequate sleep: Aim for at least 7-8 hours of quality sleep each night to support your mesentery, microbiome, and overall health.
Functional Medicine Labs for Assessing Mesentery Health
Functional medicine labs for mesentery health evaluation include tests for inflammation markers, gut microbiome assessments, and nutrient absorption evaluations.
- C-reactive protein (CRP) is an inflammatory marker that is produced by the liver and by fat stores, including mesenteric fat especially when it becomes excessive, inflamed, and/or infected.
- A comprehensive stool analysis such as the GI-MAP + Zonulin test by Diagnostic Solutions provides an evaluation of factors that interact with the health of mesentery.
- The Micronutrient Test from SpectraCell Laboratories provides a look at the levels of various nutrients to identify any deficiencies.
Understanding and Reducing Risk Factors
Protecting mesentery health requires paying attention to your diet and lifestyle habits. You can take proactive steps to identify and address risk factors that can negatively affect mesentery health. These risk factors for mesentery health include an inflammation-promoting diet, lack of adequate nutrients, a sedentary lifestyle, and chronic stress.
When to Seek Medical Advice
Paying attention to your body and discussing any symptoms you experience with a knowledgeable provider at regular check-ups can help lead to early detection of potential mesentery-related issues.
In addition, several acute issues can impact the mesentery and require seeking medical advice for mesentery health. Mesenteric lymphadenitis when the lymph nodes in the mystery become swollen and inflamed, often causes the mesentery itself to have increased inflammation. If blood flow in the arteries running through the mesentery is compromised, it can permanently damage the small intestine. If the mesenteric fat becomes inflamed, mesenteric panniculitis or sclerosing mesenteritis can result.
tags: #mesenteric #panniculitis #diet #recommendations