Condition
Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease in which the colon and rectum stay chronically inflamed and ulcerated, causing bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, and urgency during flares. Resveratrol and curcumin have the clearest trial results: symptoms improved with resveratrol in one small trial, and inflammation went down with curcumin across three studies. Those studies were small, and the evidence for curcumin is limited, so it's too early to say how much either helps.
Sources: PMID 33960587
- Supplements studied
- 8
- Graded outcomes
- 3
- Trials
- 8
- People studied
- 2,269
Evidence by supplement
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inflammatory Bowel Disease Symptoms Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 1 study | 105 people | ||
Studies that measured inflammatory bowel disease symptoms | ||||||
| Quality of Life | Improves (the measure goes up) | 105 people | ||||
| Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 105 people | ||||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inflammation Moderate Decrease | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 3 studies | 89 people | ||
Studies that measured inflammation
| ||||||
| Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 2 studies | 89 people | |||
Spirulina
- Anxiety Symptoms
- Blood Pressure: improves
- Depression Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anxiety Symptoms No effect | NoneNo effect | 80 people | ||||
| Blood Pressure | Improves (the measure goes down) | 3 studies | 80 people | |||
Studies that measured blood pressure
| ||||||
| Depression Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 80 people | |||
Studies that measured depression symptoms | ||||||
| Weight | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 80 people | |||
| Day-Time Dysfunction | Improves (the measure goes up) | 80 people | ||||
| Fatigue Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 80 people | ||||
| Hip Circumference | Improves (the measure goes down) | 80 people | ||||
| Sleep Disturbance Signs and Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 80 people | ||||
| Sleep Duration | Improves (the measure goes up) | 80 people | ||||
| Sleep Efficiency | Improves (the measure goes up) | 80 people | ||||
| Sleep Latency | Improves (the measure goes down) | 80 people | ||||
| Sleep Quality | Improves (the measure goes up) | 80 people | ||||
| Stress Signs and Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 80 people | ||||
| Waist circumference | Improves (the measure goes down) | 80 people | ||||
King of Bitters
- Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 2 studies | 344 people | |||
Vitamin E
- Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 14 people | |||
Studies that measured ulcerative colitis symptoms | ||||||
Cannabidiol (CBD)
- Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 60 people | |||
Studies that measured ulcerative colitis symptoms | ||||||
Colostrum
- Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 14 people | |||
Studies that measured ulcerative colitis symptoms | ||||||
Psyllium
- Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 102 people | |||
Key findings
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)
- InflammationImproves (the measure goes down)
- Anxiety Symptoms
The Ulcerative Colitis Adjunctive Support protocol
2 primary supplements · 7 supporting supplements
- Curcumin1–3 g daily with piperine or as highly bioavailable formulation
- Probiotics (VSL#3 / High-Dose Multi-Strain)VSL#3: 450–3,600 billion CFU daily; or other high-potency multi-strain (100+ billion CFU)
Shop the evidence-backed picks
Support alongside medical care. These supplements are not a treatment for Ulcerative Colitis. If you are being treated for it, talk to your clinician before adding one: supplements can interact with medicines.
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The supplement graded A or B for Ulcerative Colitis. Each opens third-party tested products for that supplement.
- Grade B
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Studies cited
100 studies from PubMed
- Effect of curcumin on inflammatory markers and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A meta-analysis.
- The Effect of Antioxidant Polyphenol Supplementation on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
- The Effectiveness of Curcumin, Resveratrol, and Silymarin on MASLD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
- Resveratrol: A Potential Therapeutic Natural Polyphenol for Neurodegenerative Diseases Associated with Mitochondrial Dysfunction
- Resveratrol: An Overview of Clinical Trials in Human Cancer Prevention and Treatment
- Resveratrol and Its Analogs: Potent Agents to Reverse Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Tumors
- Resveratrol and Sirtuins: A Story of Living Long Healthy Life
- Therapeutic Potential of Resveratrol in Alzheimer's Disease: A Review of the Evidence
- Resveratrol as a Chemopreventive Agent: A Promising Molecule for Fighting Cancer
- Resveratrol and Health - A Comprehensive Review of Human Clinical Trials
- Resveratrol: A Double-Edged Sword in Health Benefits
- Resveratrol and Caloric Restriction: The Role of Sirtuins in Aging and Age-Related Diseases
- The Multitarget Activity of Natural Bioactive Compounds in Parkinson's Disease: Role of Resveratrol
- Resveratrol: A New Treatment for Diseases Associated with Oxidative Stress
- Effects of spirulina and wakame consumption on intestinal cholesterol absorption and serum lipid concentrations in non-hypercholesterolemic adult men and women
- Resveratrol-Based Compounds and Neurodegeneration: Recent Insight in Multitarget Neuroprotection
- An Overview of the Anticancer Properties of Resveratrol
- Spirulina in Health and Disease Prevention: A Comprehensive Review
- Curcumin alleviates postprandial glycaemic response in healthy subjects: A cross-over, randomized controlled study
- Substantial Variability Across Individuals in the Vascular and Nutrigenomic Response to an Acute Intake of Curcumin: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- An Update on Resveratrol and Diabetes: From Metabolism to Clinical Trial Results
- Spirulina Supplementation and Metabolic Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis
- Spirulina and Allergic Rhinitis: A Systematic Review
- Spirulina (Arthrospira): Nutritional Value and Health Effects
- Spirulina and Immune Function: A Systematic Review
- Safety Assessment of Spirulina (Arthrospira) as a Dietary Supplement
- Curcumin supplementation improves vascular endothelial function in healthy middle-aged and older adults by increasing nitric oxide bioavailability and reducing oxidative stress
- A Systematic Review of the Effects of Spirulina on Cardiovascular Risk Factors
- Effects of Spirulina on Lipid Profile: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Novel Form of Curcumin Improves Endothelial Function in Young, Healthy Individuals: A Double-Blind Placebo Controlled Study
- Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Spirulina: Evidence from Clinical Studies
- Effects of Spirulina on Body Weight and Blood Glucose: A Meta-Analysis
- Resveratrol Blunts the Positive Effects of Exercise Training on Cardiovascular Health in Aged Men
- Effect of Spirulina maxima on postprandial lipemia in young runners: a preliminary report
- Effect of different curcuminoid supplement dosages on total in vivo antioxidant capacity and cholesterol levels of healthy human subjects
- Effects of Curcuma longa (turmeric) on postprandial plasma glucose and insulin in healthy subjects
- Combined inhibitory effects of soy isoflavones and curcumin on the production of prostate-specific antigen
- Effect of NCB-02, atorvastatin and placebo on endothelial function, oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, 8-week study
- Wheat grass supplementation decreases oxidative stress in healthy subjects: a comparative study with spirulina
- Chili, but not turmeric, inhibits iron absorption in young women from an iron-fortified composite meal
- Effects of bovine colostrum supplementation on immune variables in highly trained cyclists
- IGF-I, IgA, and IgG responses to bovine colostrum supplementation during training
- Effects of bovine colostrum supplementation on serum IGF-I, IgG, hormone, and saliva IgA during training
- Effects of Cannabidiol and Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol on Emotion, Cognition, and Attention: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Experimental Trial in Healthy Volunteers
- Cannabidiol presents an inverted U-shaped dose-response curve in a simulated public speaking test
- The effects of cannabidiol on persecutory ideation and anxiety in a high trait paranoid group
- Cannabidiol (CBD) as an Adjunctive Therapy in Schizophrenia: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial
- The effects of cannabidiol (CBD) on cognition and symptoms in outpatients with chronic schizophrenia a randomized placebo controlled trial
- Low-Dose Cannabidiol Is Safe but Not Effective in the Treatment for Crohn's Disease, a Randomized Controlled Trial
- Inverted U-Shaped Dose-Response Curve of the Anxiolytic Effect of Cannabidiol during Public Speaking in Real Life
- Action of cannabidiol on the anxiety and other effects produced by delta 9-THC in normal subjects
- Effects of ipsapirone and cannabidiol on human experimental anxiety
- A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Parallel-group, Pilot Study of Cannabidiol-rich Botanical Extract in the Symptomatic Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis
- Effect of Cannabidiol on Drop Seizures in the Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome
- Cannabidiol in patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy: an open-label interventional trial
- Cannabidiol as a new treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy in tuberous sclerosis complex
- The efficacy of cannabidiol for seizures reduction in pharmacoresistant epilepsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Chronic Pain Treatment With Cannabidiol in Kidney Transplant Patients in Uruguay
- Short-Term Efficacy of CBD-Enriched Hemp Oil in Girls with Dysautonomic Syndrome after Human Papillomavirus Vaccination
- A preliminary controlled study to determine whether whole-plant cannabis extracts can improve intractable neurogenic symptoms
- Randomized control trials using a tablet formulation of hyperimmune bovine colostrum to prevent diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in volunteers
- Protection by milk immunoglobulin concentrate against oral challenge with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli
- Dose effects of oral bovine colostrum on physical work capacity in cyclists
- The influence of bovine colostrum supplementation on exercise performance in highly trained cyclists
- The nutriceutical bovine colostrum truncates the increase in gut permeability caused by heavy exercise in athletes
- Bovine colostrum supplementation during running training increases intestinal permeability
- Bovine colostrum supplementation during endurance running training improves recovery, but not performance
- Bovine colostrum supplementation's lack of effect on immune variables during short-term intense exercise in well-trained athletes
- Protein metabolism and strength performance after bovine colostrum supplementation
- The effects of bovine colostrum supplementation on body composition and exercise performance in active men and women
- Effect of bovine colostrum supplementation on the composition of resistance trained and untrained limbs in healthy young men
- Effect of bovine colostrum on anaerobic exercise performance and plasma insulin-like growth factor I
- The effect of bovine colostrum supplementation on exercise performance in elite field hockey players
- Oral bovine colostrum supplementation enhances buffer capacity but not rowing performance in elite female rowers
- Bovine colostrum supplementation does not affect plasma buffer capacity or haemoglobin content in elite female rowers
- The effect of bovine colostrum supplementation on salivary IgA in distance runners
- Effect of bovine colostrum supplementation on respiratory tract mucosal defenses in swimmers
- Modulation of human humoral immune response through orally administered bovine colostrum
- Effect of a mixture of micronutrients, but not of bovine colostrum concentrate, on immune function parameters in healthy volunteers: a randomized placebo-controlled study
- A novel extract from bovine colostrum whey supports innate immune functions. II. Rapid changes in cellular immune function in humans
- Lack of prophylactic efficacy of an enteric-coated bovine hyperimmune milk product against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli challenge administered during a standard meal
- ColoPlus, a new product based on bovine colostrum, alleviates HIV-associated diarrhoea
- Effect of bovine colostrum-based food supplement in the treatment of HIV-associated diarrhea in Northern Uganda: a randomized controlled trial
- Treatment of severe diarrhea caused by Cryptosporidium parvum with oral bovine immunoglobulin concentrate in patients with AIDS
- Treatment of diarrhoea in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with immunoglobulins from bovine colostrum
- Intensification of antiretroviral therapy with raltegravir or addition of hyperimmune bovine colostrum in HIV-infected patients with suboptimal CD4+ T-cell response: a randomized controlled trial
- Randomised controlled trial of colostrum to improve intestinal function in patients with short bowel syndrome
- Health-promoting effects of bovine colostrum in Type 2 diabetic patients can reduce blood glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride and ketones
- The effect of bovine colostrum on viral upper respiratory tract infections in children with immunoglobulin A deficiency
- Concentrated bovine colostrum protein supplementation reduces the incidence of self-reported symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection in adult males
- Use of the 'nutriceutical', bovine colostrum, for the treatment of distal colitis: results from an initial study
- A pilot study: bovine colostrum supplementation and hormonal and autonomic responses to competitive cycling
- Co-administration of the health food supplement, bovine colostrum, reduces the acute non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced increase in intestinal permeability
- [Do colostrum tablets have a symptomatic effect on sore throat?]
- Efficacy of Curcuma longa in relieving pain symptoms of knee osteoarthritis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.
- Curcuma longa extract reduces inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in osteoarthritis of knee: a four-month, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial
- Efficacy and safety of curcumin and its combination with boswellic acid in osteoarthritis: a comparative, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
- Short-term effects of highly-bioavailable curcumin for treating knee osteoarthritis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled prospective study
- Safety and efficacy of curcumin versus diclofenac in knee osteoarthritis: a randomized open-label parallel-arm study
- Curcuminoid treatment for knee osteoarthritis: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial