New method for diagnosing serious bowel diseases developed

A team of researchers from the Medical University of Warsaw have developed a new non-invasive method for detecting intestinal diseases such as  Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Experimental Physiology reported.

To date, the diagnosis is based on the clinical picture, or the results of a colonoscopy. Meanwhile, Polish scientists have proposed a blood and stool test to measure the ratio of short-chain fatty acids created by bacteria. The damage to the intestinal walls, as noted, is indicated by a large amount of bacterial by-products.

Such a simple diagnosis can be used in identifying liver problems, as well as heart failure, which can be the result of excessive bowel permeability.