For patients suffering from Ulcerative Colitis, a diet supplement derived from soya lecithin could reduce their dependence on corticosteroids, reveal study.

Ulcerative Colitis is basically a disease, characterized by inflammation and sores in the lining of colon and rectum. Such sores are called ulcers. Soya lecithin is an extract of soybean, just as soya isoflavone concentrate. This contains a substance called ‘phosphatidylcholine’ which has some medicinal effects. Previous studies revealed that low levels of phosphatidycholine, leads to ulcerative colitis.

To study the process of withdrawal from steroids in ulcerative colitis patients, the researchers at the University Hospital Heidelberg in Germany, assigned 60 patients randomly to receive phosphatidylcholine or a placebo four times a day for three months.
The results showed more dependence of corticosteroid among placebo users than the patients depending on phosphatidylcholine. The patients, who were depending on phosphatidylcholine, were able to stop using steroids, while also maintaining a low clinical disease activity index. However, only three out of thirty patients among placebo group were able to achieve this outcome. There were no considerable side effects except mild bloating.

Hence, it was concluded that phospahtidylcholine could be a valuable treatment for Ulcerative Colitis.