L-glutamine is an ingredient most commonly found in body-building supplements, but scientists at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) had previously found that it protected against ammonia caused by some bacteria, and were hopeful that a similar effect could be found in the stomach.

After six weeks of supplementation, the body’s ability to fight the infection of H. pylori, a common cause of ulcers, was increased through L-glutamine supplementation, according to the study’s authors, and the level of inflammation normally caused by the bacteria was reduced.

"Because many of the stomach pathologies during H. pylori infection [including cancer progression] are linked to high levels of inflammation, this result provides us with preliminary evidence that glutamine supplementation may be an alternative therapy for reducing the severity of infection," said lead author Dr. Susan Hagen.

While supplements offer L-glutamine, natural sources also include meats such as beef and chicken, as well as protein sources like eggs.

According to Reuters, researchers in Canada have found that serious bacterial or viral infections of the digestive system may lead to irritable bowel syndrome or functional dyspepsia, which includes the symptoms of heartburn, indigestion and fullness.

The research team followed nearly 1,100 individuals who lived in Walkerton, Ontario during an outbreak of bacterial gastroenteritis when the town’s water supply was contaminated with cow manure.

They found that among those who became sickened during the outbreak, 50 percent had symptoms of dyspepsia eight years afterwards, compared to 30 percent of the people who didn’t get sick during the original outbreak.

The researchers write in the journal Gastroenterology that severe stomach viruses "have the ability to trigger symptoms that affect the upper, as well as the lower gastrointestinal tract, with long-lasting consequences."

Among some ways to combat heartburn include avoiding acidic and other foods known to trigger symptoms, cutting back on portion sizes, eating slowly, avoiding eating within a few hours of going to sleep, adding living enzymes to the diet and wearing loose-fitting clothing.

Researchers studied more than 19,500 individuals between the ages of 50 and 93 in China, where napping is common. Participants were questioned on their medical and lifestyle history – including their napping habits and daytime drowsiness. They also underwent a physical examination that included a blood test to test for the presence of type 2 diabetes.

They found that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes was 36 percent higher in participants who reported napping four to six times a week and 28 percent higher in those who napped daily.

The authors noted that the association between napping and diabetes was observed despite the fact that nappers had higher levels of physical activity, which has been shown to reduce the risk of diabetes. This suggests that the relationship between napping and diabetes might have been stronger had it not been offset by the protective effects of physical activity.

Exercising, maintaining a healthy weight and eating a healthy, balanced diet are among the best ways to prevent diabetes and control blood sugar levels naturally. Some studies have found that nutritional supplements containing chromium and cinnamon may benefit blood sugar control in diabetics.

Scientists conducted a placebo-controlled trial of 70 IBS patients for their results. Half of the participants received St. John’s wort and half received a placebo for a period of three months. They found that after the test period, the placebo group actually had fewer IBS symptoms including stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation and bloating than the group that received the herbal supplement.

It’s believed that as many as one out of five Americans has IBS symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic. Among some of the alternative treatments believed to be helpful in treating the symptoms of IBS include acupuncture, hypnosis, yoga, meditation and regular exercise, as well as herbal supplements containing peppermint and taking probiotics.

St. John’s wort has been shown to be helpful in several medical conditions such as depression and other pain syndromes. Research has shown it to be as effective as conventional, prescription anti-depressants in treating mild to moderate depression.

Reuters reports that researchers in Great Britain examined the medical records of more than 13,700 adults with IBD and more than 71,600 people from the general population without the condition for the study.

They found that individuals with IBD were overall three times more likely to get a blood clot compared to others without the condition. However, individuals suffering from an IBD flare-up are eight times as likely to get a potentially deadly blood clot.

"The increased risk we have demonstrated for patients with active disease outside the hospital means that their doctors should regard them as a high-risk group during these times," study co-author Dr. Matthew Grainge told Reuters.

The study’s authors say their findings prove that healthcare providers must educate IBD patients about the risk of clots and methods of prevention during flare-ups.

IBD refers to a group of conditions, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, marked by chronic inflammation in the intestines. Symptoms include stomach pain and diarrhea.

Among the natural remedies believed to help treat IBD are acupuncture and supplements such as evening primrose oil, borage oil, fish oil, or probiotics.

The researchers tested various types of diets of blueberry husks, rye bran and oat bran with or without a mixture of probiotic bacteria. The results showed that the protective effect of blueberries was reinforced if they were eaten together with probiotics.

"The probiotics proved to have a protective effect on the liver, an organ that is often negatively impacted by intestinal inflammations," said researcher Asa Hakansson.

They also found that when the berries were eaten together with probiotics, the content of butyric acid and propionic acid increased in the blood. These substances have previously been shown to be important energy sources for intestinal cells and to have a favorable impact on immune defense.

Blueberries are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and polyphenols, which have an antimicrobial and antioxidative effect. The combination of blueberries and probiotics reduced inflammation-inducing bacteria in the intestine at the same time as the number of health-promoting lactobacilla increased.

Researchers in Canada say their findings suggest a deficiency in the vitamin known to help with immunity can contribute to the disease.

During studies on vitamin D’s effects in mitigating cancer, lead researcher Dr. John White says that results kept revealing the vitamin’s effects on the immune system. Since Crohn’s is caused by a defect in innate immune handling of intestinal bacteria, the team conducted further studies.

They found that vitamin D acted directly on two genes that are known to be linked to Crohn’s disease.

Since Crohn’s is believed to be a genetic disease, researchers say the findings can quickly be put to the test. "Siblings of patients with Crohn’s disease that haven’t yet developed the disease might be well advised to make sure they’re vitamin D sufficient," said Dr. White. "It’s something that’s easy to do, because they can simply go to a pharmacy and buy vitamin D supplements. The vast majority of people would be candidates for vitamin D treatment."

Crohn’s is a form of inflammatory bowel disease that causes diarrhea, abdominal cramps, weight loss and other potential complications.

Vitamin D is widely available in nutritional supplement form. Dietary sources include dairy products, fish and fortified cereals.

The study in the Journal of Microbiologyhas identified butyric acid as the most promising therapy for treating the disease.

Researchers say butyric acid has well-known anti-inflammatory effects and is able to strengthen intestinal wall cells. In addition, they say that bacterial strains such as F. prausnitzii and B.pullicaecorum secrete other anti-inflammatory compounds that may enhance the therapeutic effect.

"Conventional drug therapy has limited effectiveness and considerable side effects," said medical microbiologist Filip Van Immerseel. "Probiotics are live bacterial supplements or food ingredients, which when taken in sufficient numbers confer health benefits to the host. Recent trials focusing on butyric acid-producing bacterial strains have been extremely promising and could lead to a new treatment for IBD."

Van Immerseel says that finding the most effective strain to treat the disease will be difficult.

"As butyric acid-producing bacteria are naturally depleted in IBD patients, we will need to identify strains that are able to colonize the gut without being outcompeted," he said.

It’s estimated that as many as 1.5 million Americans suffer from some form of IBD, which is an inflammation of the gastro-intestinal tract that causes severe abdominal pain and diarrhea. The most common manifestations of IBD are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Researchers involved with the study evaluated medical records over a 38-year time frame of nearly 200 Parkinson’s patients and 200 controls without the disease. They found that 36 percent of those who had the disease had a history of constipation, compared to just 20 percent in the control group.

They note that the association between constipation and Parkinson’s was evident long before the onset of the disease. "Indeed, the association remained significant when restricted to constipation documented more than 20 years before the onset of Parkinson’s disease," researchers wrote in the journal Neurology.

However, researchers say that since the digestive ailment is not directly related to the nervous system, constipation is not a specific marker for Parkinson’s. They say that further studies are needed to evaluate the link between the two conditions.

About 50,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease each year. It is a degenerative brain disease characterized by tremors, speech and walking problems and rigid muscles. Among the alternative treatments for the disease are coenzyme Q-10 nutritional supplements, massage, tai chi and yoga.

According to the Mayo Clinic, constipation is a common gastrointestinal problem characterized by infrequent bowel movements. Remedies include diet changes, exercise, acupuncture and fiber supplements.

The study being published in the November 2009 issue of the journal Pediatrics found that 73.3 percent of kids who used the alternative treatment in addition to mainstream medical treatment reported that their abdominal pain was reduced by half or more by the end of the treatment course. That’s compared to 26.7 percent of kids in the standard medical treatment only group.

The guided imagery treatment consisted of 10-minute daily sessions and 20-minute biweekly sessions on CDs the children used at home. One session, for example, directed them to imagine they were floating on a cloud and relaxing.

In addition to helping overall results, the kids said the exercises were enjoyable and easy to use. Researchers say they’re also cost-efficient. "Such self-administered treatment is, of course, very inexpensive and can be used in addition to other treatments, which potentially opens the door for easily enhancing treatment outcomes for a lot of children suffering from frequent stomach aches," said lead author Dr Miranda van Tilburg.

Functional abdominal pain affects as many as 20 percent of children. It is defined as persistent pain with no identifiable underlying disease that interferes with activities.