Vinegar may treat Ulcerative Colitis
Research in mice indicates that vinegar could help fight ulcerative colitis (UC).
UC is a chronic disease of the large intestine resulting in ulcers, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Even though why UC happens is not known, research suggests that gut bacteria may play an important role.
A study recently published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (by Jilin University in Changchun, China), mentions that vinegar appears to suppress inflammatory proteins as well as increase beneficial bacteria in the guts of mice.
For their study, vinegar and its main ingredient acetic acid was given by researchers to mice who were chemically induced to develop symptoms of ulcerative colitis.
The outcome was a significant reduction of symptoms of ulcerative colitis in the mice.
The researchers found that vinegar reduced inflammation in the colon by suppressing proteins and molecular processes that trigger inflammation.
The authors note that “vinegar inhibited inflammation through suppressing Th1 and Th17 responses, the NLRP3 inflammasome, and MAPK signaling activation.”
Also, from an examination of the animals’ stools, the researchers found that mice treated with vinegar for a month before chemically inducing colitis had higher levels of friendly bacteria in their gut, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria.
The researchers also found that vinegar appears to reduce a type of cell death that is triggered by stressful conditions.
Meanwhile, a Rockefeller University study shows how neurons and macrophages in the gut help to prevent damage from inflammation.
Hope this works in humans so that victory over UC is achieved.
