Consumption of red cabbage juice would increase good bacteria in the intestinal microbiota and could thus reduce inflammation in people with IBD.
- Red cabbage juice impacts the composition of the microbiota by increasing good bacteria.
- The researchers observed, in mice, a reduction in inflammation of the colon, an improvement in the function of the intestinal barrier, and less intestinal damage.
- So, thanks to red cabbage juice, people with IBD may have fewer symptoms.
More than 200,000 people in France are affected by inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), which include Crohn’s disease (CD – chronic inflammatory disease of the digestive tract) and ulcerative colitis (UC – which is a chronic inflammation of the the intestinal mucosa, rectum and colon), depending on the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm).
IBD: “after two years of use, the treatment ends up no longer being effective in half of the patients”
In a new study published in the journal International Journal of Molecular Sciencesresearchers from the University of Missouri, in the United States, may have found a natural remedy: red cabbage juice. And this could be good news for all IBD patients because, currently, there is no cure for these diseases.
Biotherapies are generally prescribed to stop attacks, regulate immunity and reduce inflammation in the long term. But, according to Inserm, “half of patients respond well to biotherapies when they are started. But the treatment ends up no longer being effective in half of them, most often after two years of use.” Which can have significant consequences because, for around 15% of patients, the attacks are severe and can lead to hospitalization and cessation of food.
More good bacteria in the intestinal microbiota thanks to red cabbage juice
In their study, the researchers tested red cabbage juice on mice. They discovered that its consumption could impact the gut microbiota and relieve inflammation. “Red cabbage juice changes the composition of the gut microbiota by increasing good bacteria, leading to increased production of short-chain fatty acids and other bacteria-derived metabolites that alleviate inflammation, indicates Santayana Rachagani, one of the authors, in a communicated. These changes in the gut microbiota are associated with improved intestinal barrier function (which filters nutrients, pathogens, etc.), improved colon repair, and antioxidant effects, thereby mitigating intestinal damage and inflammation of the colon.“
In detail, by increasing the levels of good bacteria, this drink triggered an anti-inflammatory receptor in the colon of mice. In addition, red cabbage juice would also stimulate regulatory T cells, which promote an anti-inflammatory immune balance and reduce inflammation of the colon. All of this could therefore reduce the symptoms of people with IBD. “The capacity [du jus de chou rouge] to modulate the gut microbiota, activate anti-inflammatory pathways, and improve immune regulation highlights its potential as a valuable therapeutic agent for IBD and related inflammatory disorders“, concludes Santayana Rachagani.
