Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term for both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis which are chronic inflammatory diseases of the gut. In Crohn’s disease, inflammation can occur anywhere from the mouth to the anus, whereas in ulcerative colitis, inflammation is limited to the large bowel/intestine.

There are a wide range of treatments for IBD, but currently no cure. Most treatments have significant side effects and so there is now a great deal of research into botanical extracts being used to dampen down inflammatory responses. Patients also suffer vitamin and mineral deficiencies and so testing and supplementing these should also be part of the process, including with Xanthohumol for IBD.

A study published in 2019 involved giving 10 patients with IBD a nutrition support drink which contained energy, phytonutrients and vitamins. The anti-inflammatory aspect of the drink was delivered by adding botanical extracts through a combined curcumin and xanthohumol for IBD.  Xanthohumol, a natural extract from hops, has been found to have strong anti-inflammatory properties in over 100 studies, and also holds antioxidative* properties. 

Patients took the drink twice a day for 12 weeks. Blood vitamin levels and white blood cell numbers changed, which are thought to be linked to the curcumin supplement as previous studies in mice had seen similar changes. Following other findings since, further research is now underway by the same team using a xanthohumol supplement for Crohn’s disease (an IBD).

Reference https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/216495611986725

*GB Article 13.1 Botanicals ‘on hold’ Health Claims