Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a long-term inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that affects the large intestine, or colon. The goal of medical treatment for UC is to achieve and maintain remission.
In people with UC, the colon becomes inflamed and develops small, pus-producing ulcers.
The symptoms of UC include abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, and a frequent need to have a bowel movement.
This article outlines the medicines, lifestyle changes, and dietary adjustments that may help people maintain remission and prevent flare-ups of UC.
What is remission?
Remission occurs when UC medications control or resolve inflammation of the colon, leading to an improvement in symptoms.
The length of remission varies from weeks or months to years. If the medications are working and no other factors trigger a flare-up, the disease can remain in remission for a long time.
Even if UC stays in remission for years, it is essential to keep using the medications to help prevent future flare-ups.
Treatments that may help achieve or maintain UC remission include:
Aminosalicylates
Aminosalicylates are drugs that reduce inflammation in the lining of the colon. They can treat mild to moderate UC.
The two most common aminosalicylates are sulfasalazine and mesalamine. Around 90 percent of people who cannot take sulfasalazine can take mesalamine, which has fewer side effects.
Mesalamine is available as an oral medication, a suppository, and an enema formulation.
Suppositories and enema formulations can target specific parts of the colon and rectum. They may provide extra symptom relief for people who use them alongside oral medications.
Exercise may help reduce the risk of the following physical and mental health conditions associated with IBD:
- obesity
- colon cancer
- loss of bone density
- low mood
- stress
A 2015 study investigated the association between exercise and disease flare-ups among people with IBD in remission.
Of the 1,308 participants, 549 had UC or indeterminate colitis (IC), which is when it is unclear whether a person has Crohn’s disease or UC.
Participants with UC or IC who had higher exercise levels at the start of the study were less likely to develop active disease 6 months later.
However, the benefit of exercise was not statistically significant. Confirming whether exercise can help to maintain colitis remission will require more research.
Avoiding certain pain relievers
According to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation (CCF), the following over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers can cause intestinal ulcers:
- aspirin
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, or NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen
- COX-2 inhibitors, including the brands Celebrex and Vioxx
The CCF recommend that people avoid taking these drugs unless they are necessary to treat a serious health issue, such as heart disease.
Identifying and avoiding trigger foods
According to the CFF, some people with UC experience an increase in cramping, bloating, and diarrhea after eating certain foods.
Although these trigger foods vary from person to person, some common examples include:
- fatty foods
- spicy foods
- sugary foods
- sugar substitutes
- alcohol
- caffeinated drinks
- foods containing lactose
- insoluble fibers, which raw green vegetables, grains, and most fruits contain
If UC symptoms seem to get worse after eating certain foods, consider keeping a food diary and recording symptoms every day to check for a pattern.
If a person suspects that a type of food is making their UC symptoms worse, they can also try eliminating it from their diet and seeing if symptoms improve.
The following supplements may help maintain UC remission:
Vitamin D
Vitamin D may reduce inflammation in the colon. Some researchers estimate that 60–70 percent of people with IBD have insufficient vitamin D levels.
A 2016 study looked at the role of vitamin D deficiency in IBD. The researchers found that over 5 years, participants with low vitamin D experienced worse pain, more severe flare-ups, and poorer quality of life, compared to participants with normal vitamin D levels.
Participants with low vitamin D also needed more medications, emergency department visits, hospital admissions, and surgeries.
The authors also found that participants accessed health services less often after receiving vitamin D supplements.
Vitamin D supplements are available for purchase online.
Probiotics
Research from 2018 suggests that an imbalance in intestinal bacteria may cause the inflammation that occurs in people with UC.
In a different analysis from 2018, researchers found that people who took probiotics and an aminosalicylate had higher remission rates than those who only took an aminosalicylate.
Probiotics may help reduce UC symptoms by:
- preventing the growth of harmful gut bacteria
- regulating the immune system
- reducing inflammation in the colon
- improving the function of the intestinal barrier, which prevents toxins and harmful bacteria from entering the bloodstream
Probiotics are available for purchase online.
Curcumin
Some plants in the ginger family produce curcumin, a chemical.
In 2012, researchers investigated whether curcumin could help maintain UC remission.
Compared to the placebo group, fewer people in the group that took curcumin relapsed after 6 months. However, the results were not statistically significant, and confirming the benefits of curcumin will require more research.
Curcumin supplements are available for purchase online.
Outlook
Prescription medications, as well as some lifestyle and dietary changes, can help people with UC to maintain remission. A person is likely to benefit from managing stress, exercising regularly, and taking care to avoid food triggers.
Certain supplements may also help prevent UC flare-ups. Anyone interested should speak with their doctor about adding these supplements to their treatment plan.
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