Ulcerative Colitis - Supplements

Keeping an eye on your diet is essential to caring for colon inflammation. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful.

Don’t forget the fish oil
Help reduce inflammation and prevent relapses by taking a daily supplement delivering 5.4 grams of omega-3 fatty acids
Drink aloe juice
Improve your symptoms, and your chances for remission, by drinking 100 ml of an Aloe vera herbal extract twice a day
Try herbal boswellia
Reduce severity and encourage remission by taking 550 mg of boswellia gum resin three times a day
Check up on nutrition
Visit a qualified health professional regularly to detect and treat nutritional deficiencies caused by colitis

Also indexed as:

ulcerative colitis

About this treatment

What Are "Star" Ratings?

a7_3star Reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a substantial health benefit.

a7_2star Contradictory, insufficient, or preliminary studies suggesting a health benefit or minimal health benefit.

a7_1star For an herb, supported by traditional use but minimal or no scientific evidence. For a supplement, little scientific support.

Our proprietary “Star-Rating” system was developed to help you easily understand the amount of scientific support behind each supplement in relation to a specific health condition. While there is no way to predict whether a vitamin, mineral, or herb will successfully treat or prevent associated health conditions, our unique ratings tell you how well these supplements are understood by the medical community, and whether studies have found them to be effective for other people.

For over a decade, our team has combed through thousands of research articles published in reputable journals. To help you make educated decisions, and to better understand controversial or confusing supplements, our medical experts have digested the science into these three easy-to-follow ratings. We hope this provides you with a helpful resource to make informed decisions towards your health and well-being.

Supplement	Amount	Why
Aloe	100 ml of an Aloe vera herbal extract twice a day	Drinking aloe juice may improve your symptoms and your chances for remission.
Aloe 100 ml of an Aloe vera herbal extract twice a day Aloe vera juice has anti-inflammatory activity and been used by some doctors for people with UC. In a double-blind study of people with mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis, supplementation with aloe resulted in a complete remission or an improvement in symptoms in 47% of cases, compared with 14% of those given a placebo (a statistically significant difference).¹⁴ No significant side effects were seen. The amount of aloe used was 100 ml (approximately 3.5 ounces) twice a day for four weeks. Other traditional anti-inflammatory and soothing herbs, including calendula, flaxseed, licorice, marshmallow, myrrh, and yarrow. Many of these herbs are most effective, according to clinical experience, if taken internally as well as in enema form.¹⁵ Enemas should be avoided during acute flare-ups but are useful for mild and chronic inflammation. It is best to consult with a doctor experienced with botanical medicine to learn more about herbal enemas before using them. More research needs to be done to determine the effectiveness of these herbs. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Boswellia	550 mg of gum resin three times a day	Supplementing with boswelia may help reduce severity and encourage remission.
Boswellia 550 mg of gum resin three times a day A small clinical study found that people with UC taking 550 mg of boswellia gum resin three times daily for six weeks had similar improvement in symptoms and the severity of their disease as people with UC taking the drug sulfasalazine.¹⁶ Overall, 82% of patients receiving boswellia, along with 75% of patients taking sulfasalazine, went into remission. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Butyrate	Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner	Butyrate, administered by enema, has been shown to improve ulcerative colitis symptoms in most studies.
DHEA	Take under medical supervision: 200 mg daily	In one trial, 6 of 13 people with ulcerative colitis went into remission after taking supplementing with DHEA.
DHEA Take under medical supervision: 200 mg daily In a preliminary trial, 6 of 13 people with ulcerative colitis went into remission after taking 200 mg per day of DHEA for eight weeks.¹⁷ This large amount of DHEA has the potential to cause adverse side effects and should only be used under the supervision of a doctor. What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Fish Oil	5.4 grams daily of omega-3 fatty acids	Supplementing with fish oil may help reduce inflammation and prevent relapses.
Fish Oil 5.4 grams daily of omega-3 fatty acids Preliminary¹⁸ and double-blind trials¹⁹ ^{, 20} ^{, 21} have found that fish oil supplementation reduces inflammation, decreases the need for anti-inflammatory drugs, and promotes normal weight gain in people with UC. However, fish oil has not always been effective in clinical trials for UC.²² Amounts used in successful clinical trials provided 3.2 grams of EPA and 2.2 grams of DHA per day—the two important fatty acids found in fish oil. In a preliminary trial, people with UC significantly improved on a sugar-free, low-allergen diet with additional nutritional supplementation that included a multivitamin-mineral supplement (2–6 tablets per day); a fish oil supplement (400 mg per day); borage oil (400 mg per day); flaxseed oil (400 mg per day); and a probiotic formula containing Lactobacillus acidophilus and other species of beneficial bacteria.²³ Some participants received slight variations of this regimen. Since so many different supplements were given and since the trial was not controlled, it is not possible to say which, if any, of the nutrients was responsible for the improvement observed by the researchers. What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Folic Acid	Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner	People with ulcerative colitis may be at a higher risk of colon cancer, supplementing with folic acid may reduce the risk.
Folic Acid Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner UC is linked to an increased risk of colon cancer. Studies have found that people with UC who take folic acid supplements or who have high blood levels of folic acid have a reduced risk of colon cancer compared with people who have UC and do not take folic acid supplements.²⁴ ^{, 25} ^{, 26} Although these associations do not prove that folic acid was responsible for the reduction in risk, this vitamin has been shown to prevent experimentally induced colon cancer in animals.²⁷ Moreover, low blood folic acid levels have been found in more than half of all people with UC.²⁸ People with UC who are taking the drug sulfasalazine, which inhibits the absorption of folic acid,²⁹ are at a particularly high risk of developing folic acid deficiency. Folic acid supplementation may therefore be important for many people with UC. Since taking folic acid may mask a vitamin B12 deficiency, however, people with UC who wish to take folic acid over the long term should have their vitamin B12 status assessed by a physician. Alcohol consumption is known to promote folic acid deficiency and has also been linked to an increased risk of colon cancer.³⁰ People with UC should, therefore, keep alcohol intake to a minimum. What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Probiotics	10 to 600 billion colony-forming units per day of probiotic bacteria, or 250 mg of Saccharomyces boulardii three times daily	Supplementing with probiotics has been shown to help people with ulcerative colitis.
Probiotics 10 to 600 billion colony-forming units per day of probiotic bacteria, or 250 mg of Saccharomyces boulardii three times daily In preliminary³¹ and double-blind³² trials, a probiotic supplement (in this case, a non-disease-causing strain of Escherichia coli) was effective at maintaining remission in people with UC. In a double-blind trial, a combination probiotic supplement containing Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria, and a beneficial strain of Streptococcus has been shown to prevent pouchitis, a common complication of surgery for UC.³³ People with chronic relapsing pouchitis received either 3 grams per day of the supplement or placebo for nine months. Eighty-five percent of those who took the supplement had no further episodes of pouchitis during the nine-month trial, whereas 100% of those receiving placebo had relapses within four months. Preliminary evidence suggests that combination probiotic supplements may be effective at preventing UC relapses as well.³⁴ In a preliminary trial, people with UC significantly improved on a sugar-free, low-allergen diet with additional nutritional supplementation that included a multivitamin-mineral supplement (2–6 tablets per day); a fish oil supplement (400 mg per day); borage oil (400 mg per day); flaxseed oil (400 mg per day); and a probiotic formula containing Lactobacillus acidophilus and other species of beneficial bacteria.³⁵ Some participants received slight variations of this regimen. Since so many different supplements were given and since the trial was not controlled, it is not possible to say which, if any, of the nutrients was responsible for the improvement observed by the researchers. What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Psyllium	Refer to label instructions	Taking psyllium may help people with ulcerative colitis maintain remission. Learn More
Wheat Grass Juice	Wheat grass juice	In one trial, supplementing with wheat grass juice improved symptoms in 78% of people with ulcerative colitis.
Calendula	Refer to label instructions	Calendula is an anti-inflammatory and soothing herb that may be effective in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.
Calendula Aloe vera juice has anti-inflammatory activity and been used by some doctors for people with UC. In a double-blind study of people with mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis, supplementation with aloe resulted in a complete remission or an improvement in symptoms in 47% of cases, compared with 14% of those given a placebo (a statistically significant difference).³⁶ No significant side effects were seen. The amount of aloe used was 100 ml (approximately 3.5 ounces) twice a day for four weeks. Other traditional anti-inflammatory and soothing herbs, including calendula, flaxseed, licorice, marshmallow, myrrh, and yarrow. Many of these herbs are most effective, according to clinical experience, if taken internally as well as in enema form.³⁷ Enemas should be avoided during acute flare-ups but are useful for mild and chronic inflammation. It is best to consult with a doctor experienced with botanical medicine to learn more about herbal enemas before using them. More research needs to be done to determine the effectiveness of these herbs. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Chamomile	Refer to label instructions	Practitioners of herbal medicine often recommend chamomile to people with colitis.
Chamomile German doctors practicing herbal medicine often recommend chamomile for people with colitis.³⁸ A cup of strong tea drunk three times per day is standard, along with enemas using the tea when it reaches body temperature. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Flaxseed	Refer to label instructions	Flaxseed is an anti-inflammatory and soothing herb that may be effective in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.
Flaxseed Aloe vera juice has anti-inflammatory activity and been used by some doctors for people with UC. In a double-blind study of people with mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis, supplementation with aloe resulted in a complete remission or an improvement in symptoms in 47% of cases, compared with 14% of those given a placebo (a statistically significant difference).³⁹ No significant side effects were seen. The amount of aloe used was 100 ml (approximately 3.5 ounces) twice a day for four weeks. Other traditional anti-inflammatory and soothing herbs, including calendula, flaxseed, licorice, marshmallow, myrrh, and yarrow. Many of these herbs are most effective, according to clinical experience, if taken internally as well as in enema form.⁴⁰ Enemas should be avoided during acute flare-ups but are useful for mild and chronic inflammation. It is best to consult with a doctor experienced with botanical medicine to learn more about herbal enemas before using them. More research needs to be done to determine the effectiveness of these herbs. In a preliminary trial, people with UC significantly improved on a sugar-free, low-allergen diet with additional nutritional supplementation that included a multivitamin-mineral supplement (2–6 tablets per day); a fish oil supplement (400 mg per day); borage oil (400 mg per day); flaxseed oil (400 mg per day); and a probiotic formula containing Lactobacillus acidophilus and other species of beneficial bacteria.⁴¹ Some participants received slight variations of this regimen. Since so many different supplements were given and since the trial was not controlled, it is not possible to say which, if any, of the nutrients was responsible for the improvement observed by the researchers. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Licorice	Refer to label instructions	Licorice is an anti-inflammatory and soothing herb that may be effective in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.
Licorice Aloe vera juice has anti-inflammatory activity and been used by some doctors for people with UC. In a double-blind study of people with mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis, supplementation with aloe resulted in a complete remission or an improvement in symptoms in 47% of cases, compared with 14% of those given a placebo (a statistically significant difference).⁴² No significant side effects were seen. The amount of aloe used was 100 ml (approximately 3.5 ounces) twice a day for four weeks. Other traditional anti-inflammatory and soothing herbs, including calendula, flaxseed, licorice, marshmallow, myrrh, and yarrow. Many of these herbs are most effective, according to clinical experience, if taken internally as well as in enema form.⁴³ Enemas should be avoided during acute flare-ups but are useful for mild and chronic inflammation. It is best to consult with a doctor experienced with botanical medicine to learn more about herbal enemas before using them. More research needs to be done to determine the effectiveness of these herbs. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Marshmallow	Refer to label instructions	Marshmallow is an anti-inflammatory and soothing herb that may be effective in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.
Marshmallow Aloe vera juice has anti-inflammatory activity and been used by some doctors for people with UC. In a double-blind study of people with mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis, supplementation with aloe resulted in a complete remission or an improvement in symptoms in 47% of cases, compared with 14% of those given a placebo (a statistically significant difference).⁴⁴ No significant side effects were seen. The amount of aloe used was 100 ml (approximately 3.5 ounces) twice a day for four weeks. Other traditional anti-inflammatory and soothing herbs, including calendula, flaxseed, licorice, marshmallow, myrrh, and yarrow. Many of these herbs are most effective, according to clinical experience, if taken internally as well as in enema form.⁴⁵ Enemas should be avoided during acute flare-ups but are useful for mild and chronic inflammation. It is best to consult with a doctor experienced with botanical medicine to learn more about herbal enemas before using them. More research needs to be done to determine the effectiveness of these herbs. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Myrrh	Refer to label instructions	Myrrh is an anti-inflammatory and soothing herb that may be effective in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.
Myrrh Aloe vera juice has anti-inflammatory activity and been used by some doctors for people with UC. In a double-blind study of people with mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis, supplementation with aloe resulted in a complete remission or an improvement in symptoms in 47% of cases, compared with 14% of those given a placebo (a statistically significant difference).⁴⁶ No significant side effects were seen. The amount of aloe used was 100 ml (approximately 3.5 ounces) twice a day for four weeks. Other traditional anti-inflammatory and soothing herbs, including calendula, flaxseed, licorice, marshmallow, myrrh, and yarrow. Many of these herbs are most effective, according to clinical experience, if taken internally as well as in enema form.⁴⁷ Enemas should be avoided during acute flare-ups but are useful for mild and chronic inflammation. It is best to consult with a doctor experienced with botanical medicine to learn more about herbal enemas before using them. More research needs to be done to determine the effectiveness of these herbs. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
St. John’s Wort	Refer to label instructions	St. John’s wort, administered as an enema, may be beneficial for people with ulcerative colitis.
St. John’s Wort Caution: It is likely that there are many drug interactions with St. John's wort that have not yet been identified. St. John's wort stimulates a drug-metabolizing enzyme (cytochrome P450 3A4) that metabolizes at least 50% of the drugs on the market.⁴⁸ Therefore, it could potentially cause a number of drug interactions that have not yet been reported. People taking any medication should consult with a doctor or pharmacist before taking St. John's wort. Enemas of oil of St. John’s wort may be beneficial for ulcerative colitis.⁴⁹ Consult with a doctor before using St. John’s wort oil enemas. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Turmeric	Refer to label instructions	Curcumin, a compound in turmeric, is anti-inflammatory and may improve symptoms of ulcerative colitis.
Turmeric Curcumin is a compound in turmeric (Curcuma longa) that has been reported to have anti-inflammatory activity. In a preliminary trial, five of five people with chronic ulcerative proctitis (a condition similar to ulcerative colitis) had an improvement in their disease after supplementing with curcumin. The amount of curcumin used was 550 mg twice a day for one month, followed by 550 mg three times a day for one month.⁵⁰ In a double-blind trial, supplementation with curcumin in the amount of 1 gram twice a day for six months decreased the relapse rate in patients with ulcerative colitis in remission. The relapse rate was 4.7% among people receiving curcumin and 20.5% in the placebo group, a statistically significant difference. All patients in the study also received conventional therapy.⁵¹ What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Yarrow	Refer to label instructions	Yarrow is an anti-inflammatory and soothing herb that may be effective in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.
Yarrow Aloe vera juice has anti-inflammatory activity and been used by some doctors for people with UC. In a double-blind study of people with mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis, supplementation with aloe resulted in a complete remission or an improvement in symptoms in 47% of cases, compared with 14% of those given a placebo (a statistically significant difference).⁵² No significant side effects were seen. The amount of aloe used was 100 ml (approximately 3.5 ounces) twice a day for four weeks. Other traditional anti-inflammatory and soothing herbs, including calendula, flaxseed, licorice, marshmallow, myrrh, and yarrow. Many of these herbs are most effective, according to clinical experience, if taken internally as well as in enema form.⁵³ Enemas should be avoided during acute flare-ups but are useful for mild and chronic inflammation. It is best to consult with a doctor experienced with botanical medicine to learn more about herbal enemas before using them. More research needs to be done to determine the effectiveness of these herbs. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

References

Last Review: 05-11-2011

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The information presented in Aisle7 is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. Self-treatment is not recommended for life-threatening conditions that require medical treatment under a doctor's care. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires June 2011.

© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

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