Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease resulting in painful inflammation and sore formation on the inner lining of the large intestine, or colon. Ulcerative colitis, or UC, is a poorly understood disease with limited treatment options, therefore patients often turn to alternative treatments such as dimethyl sulfoxide for relief of their symptoms. DMSO is not currently approved treatment for UC, however. As with any health supplement, consult your doctor before using DMSO.
Laboratory Studies
Evidence from laboratory studies suggests that DMSO may potentially help in the treatment of UC. DMSO appeared to suppress the inflammatory response of human intestinal cells growing in a laboratory dish, reports a study published in the October 2011 issue of the medical journal "Toxicology Letters." While these preliminary findings are encouraging, additional clinical trials are necessary to confirm the results in patients with UC.
Combined Treatments
DMSO has been studied in human trials when used in conjunction with other medications for treating UC. Combining the drug sulfasalazine with DMSO appeared to increase the effectiveness of sulfasalazine and reduce the rate of relapse in patients with UC, according to a study published in the June 1992 issue of the "Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine."
Mechanism
The mechanism by which DMSO may reduce inflammation and decrease the symptoms of UC might involve the antioxidant properties of DMSO. Inflammation may result from the presence of damaging molecules known as "free radicals." DMSO may act as a "free radical scavenger" and absorb these harmful molecules, thereby reducing inflammation, explains the "Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine."
Cautions
Due to the lack of supporting evidence, DMSO is not currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for UC. Medical-grade preparations of DMSO are only available with a prescription for the treatment of a bladder condition known as interstitial cystitis. While industrial-grade solutions of DMSO may be purchase through chemical suppliers, these preparations are not safe for human consumption, and may cause dangerous health effects, warns the University of Maryland Medical Center.
References
- "Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine"; Role of Oxygen-Derived Free Radical Scavengers in the Management of Recurrent Attacks of Ulcerative Colitis: A New Approach; AS Salim; June 1992
- "Toxicology Letters"; Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) Attenuates the Inflammatory Response in the in Vitro Intestinal Caco-2 Cell Model; Sylvie Hollebeech et al.; October 2011
- "Reviews in Clinical and Basic Pharmacology"; Medical Use of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO); BN Swanson; 1985
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Sulfur; Steven D. Ehrlich et al.; May 2009
