Abstract

An unintended experiment in veterinary medicine and its follow up analysis have identified the ability for dietary supplements that enhance cellular immunity to destroy Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP). The possible significance of this observation for Crohn#x2019;s disease is discussed. An infectious disease is basically a statement of immune system failure. Either the pathogen#x2019;s challenge inoculum was too great for the host#x2019;s immune system to subjugate or the host#x2019;s immune system was genetically designed to facilitate susceptibility to the mycobacterial pathogen in question. Within the Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) paradigm of causation of Crohn#x2019;s disease, diet#x2019;s therapeutic objectives have been reduction of MAP antigen challenges and the correction of diseased induced impairment of host immunity (1-3). The argument is presented that specifically targeted dietary supplementation may be therapeutic.