04/07/2020 / By Ralph Flores
People suffering from ulcerative colitis can benefit from a plant compound found in red wine and chocolate. A recent study published in the Archives of Medical Research revealed that resveratrol can improve the quality of life of patients with ulcerative colitis.
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic disease that affects the inner lining of the large intestine. In particular, it causes inflammation and ulcers (sores) to appear in the digestive tract. Ulcerative colitis develops gradually and can become worse over time. While signs and symptoms vary depending on the severity of the inflammation and where it occurs, some commonly recognized symptoms of ulcerative colitis include:
People with ulcerative colitis often have periods of remission when symptoms disappear. These can last for weeks or even years.
Inflammatory bowel disease — which includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease — affects 1.3 percent of adults in the United States.
For their study, researchers from Iran looked at whether supplementing with resveratrol can improve symptoms of ulcerative colitis. A total of 50 patients with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis were given resveratrol capsules, which they took for six weeks. The researchers found that supplementing with resveratrol significantly reduced biomarkers for inflammation and clinical colitis.
“Our results indicate that 6 weeks [of] supplementation with 500 mg resveratrol can improve quality of life and disease clinical colitis activity at least partially through inflammation reduction in patients with [ulcerative colitis],” the researchers wrote in their report. (Related: Polydatin, a precursor of resveratrol, may help prevent heart disease.)
Resveratrol is mainly found in the skins and seeds of grapes and other berries. Many people know resveratrol as the compound in red wine that provides heart benefits. However, resveratrol can improve a person’s health in other ways. (h/t to Healthline.com)
Resveratrol is a powerful plant compound that offers more than just heart and digestive health benefits. You can learn more about this compound at FoodScience.news.
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Tagged Under: anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, digestive health, food cures, food is medicine, food science, heart health, natural cures, natural medicine, phytonutrients, red wine, research, resveratrol, supplements, ulcerative colitis
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