Can you eat peanut butter with cdiff?

In this article, we will answer the question “ can you eat peanut butter with cdiff?” and discuss the reasons why peanut butter is not recommended when having cdiff and what are the foods to avoid with cdiff, and those to consume with cdiff. 

Can you eat peanut butter with cdiff?

Yes, you can eat peanut butter with cdiff, because, although having insoluble fibers, peanut butter also contains soluble fibers, which are helpful in managing cdiff. 

However, the effects of the ingestion of food items containing insoluble fibers by patients suffering from cdiff is controversial (1), and some scientific published documents recommend the ingestion of fermentable fibers, while others do not recommend the use of fermentable fibers for managing cdiff (4). 

The consumption of insoluble fibers is not effective in managing the symptoms caused by cdiff, as reported in studies (1). Peanut butter is a very nutritious food and contains both soluble and insoluble fibers (3) and therefore can be consumed with cdiff.

Symptoms such as diarrhea, inflammation, destruction of the intestinal cells and colitis are present in cdiff and the diet can influence the relief and treatment of the symptoms.

What is c diff?

Cdiff means Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Clostridium difficile is a strain of opportunistic bacteria that colonize the intestines, causing severe diarrhea and intestinal infection. 

It can be caused by contamination by the exposure to surfaces, material and persons contaminated by the bacteria, or by the systematic use of antibiotics, which dysregulates the gut microbiota, leading to the overdevelopment of pathogenic bacteria in the gut (1,2). 

Is peanut butter not recommended for cdiff?

Peanut butter is either recommended and not recommended for cdiff patients, because, while insoluble fibers are not effective in the relieve of the cdiff symptoms, soluble fibers are effective, as shown in studies (1), and peanut butter contains both insoluble and soluble fibers (3). 

The fibers in peanut butter are insoluble polysaccharides (cellulose and hemicellulose) and soluble oligosaccharides (raffinose, stachyose and verbascose) (3). 

Soluble fibers are soluble in water and can be fermented in the intestines by healthy gut bacteria, producing short chain fatty acids (SCFA), which are related to improved health outcomes (1,5).

The ingestion of soluble fibers is related to the reduction of the risks of gastrointestinal disorders, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases and to the promotion of a healthy gut microbiota, as well as to favoring the immune system (1,3).

Insoluble fibers are insoluble in water and therefore not digested, rather increase the volume of the stool and stimulate the intestinal transit. Their ingestion is related to the desintoxication of the body.

What are the recommended foods to people with cdiff?

The recommended foods to people with cdiff are:

Persons with c diff infections are highly recommended to consume foods that contain probiotics. Probiotics are safe bacteria or microorganisms that are able to ferment soluble fibers and produce metabolites favoring health and improving the immune system. Some examples of probiotics are yogurt, kefir, and other fermented products (5).

The administration of zinc in a correct quantity has been shown to be effective in both preventing and treating cdiff (4). Food sources of zinc are beef, turkey breast, pumpkin seed, cereals, oats, seafood, and lentils (6).

Soluble fibers have been shown to reduce the symptoms of cdiff and be helpful treating the inflammatory conditions caused by this infection, according to studies. The ingestion of pectin and inulin, which are fermentable soluble fibers attenuate inflammation and favor the growth of healthy gut bacteria, which produce short chain fatty acids (SCFA), improving the immune system and health (1)

Conclusion

In this article, we answered the question “ can you eat peanut butter with cdiff?” and discussed the reasons why peanut butter is not recommended when having cdiff and what are the foods to avoid with cdiff, and those to consume with cdiff.

Citation

  1. Wu Z, Xu Q, Wang Q, Chen Y, Lv L, Zheng B, Yan R, Jiang H, Shen J, Wang S, Wang K, Xia J, Han S, Li L. The impact of dietary fibers on Clostridioides difficile infection in a mouse model. Front Cell Infect Microbiol, 2022, 12, 1028267. 
  2. Czepiel J, Dróżdż M, Pituch H, Kuijper EJ, Perucki W, Mielimonka A, Goldman S, Wultańska D, Garlicki A, Biesiada G. Clostridium difficile infection: review. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 2019, 38, 1211-1221. 
  3. Bonku, Rabiatu, and Jianmei Yu. Health aspects of peanuts as an outcome of its chemical composition. Food Sci Human Wellness, 2020, 9, 21-30.
  4. SHAJI, ABIN, et al. Dietary Impact on the Gut Microbiome and Its Effects on Clostridium Difficile, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, and Metabolic Syndromes. Exper Clin Med Georgia, 2022, 2.
  5. National Institute of Health. Probiotics: What You Need To Know.
  6. National Institute of Health. Zinc. Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.

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