Diabetes Drug May Help Ulcerative Colitis by Producing Hydrogen Gas
- Authors
- Jian-Hong Zhu, De-Qing Zhang, Wei-Chang Chen
- Journal
- African Journal of Traditional, Complementary, and Alternative Medicines
- Year
- 2013
- DOI
- 10.4314/ajtcam.v10i5.23
- Study Type
- clinical
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Body System
- Gastrointestinal
TL;DR
A medicine called Acarbose, normally used to help control blood sugar in diabetics, might also help people with ulcerative colitis because it makes bacteria in your gut produce hydrogen gas, which reduces inflammation and damage in your intestines.
Key Finding
Acarbose may help manage ulcerative colitis by increasing hydrogen gas production in the colon through bacterial fermentation, which could neutralize oxidative stress and reduce inflammation.
Summary
This study examined whether acarbose, a diabetes medication, could help treat ulcerative colitis (a chronic intestinal inflammation condition). The researchers hypothesized that acarbose works by causing undigested carbohydrates to reach the colon, where bacteria ferment them and produce hydrogen gas. The authors propose that this hydrogen gas may reduce oxidative stress (cellular damage from unstable molecules) and inflammation in the intestines, potentially easing ulcerative colitis symptoms.
Practical Takeaway
While this is an interesting hypothesis, important limitations apply: the study design and results are not fully described, no human trial data are reported, and sample size and duration are not specified. This represents early-stage theoretical work rather than clinical evidence. Anyone with ulcerative colitis should consult their doctor before considering acarbose, as it is not an established treatment for this condition and may have side effects.
Abstract
The objective of the study was to investigate ulcerative colitis management through oral administration of acarbose. Acarbose has gained importance as a drug used widely to treat Diabetes Mellitus Type 2,as it acts on the small intestine by competitively inhibiting enzymes that delay the release of glucose from complex carbohydrates, thereby specifically reducing postprandial glucose excursion. The main side-effect of treatment with Acarbose, flatulence, occurs when undigested carbohydrates are fermented by colonic bacteria, resulting in considerable amounts of hydrogen. We found that the enteric benefits of Acarbose are partly due to be their ability to neutralise oxidative stress via increased production of Hâ‚‚ in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, some symptoms of ulcerative colitis in human beings can be ameliorated by Acarbose.