Anti-Ulcer Benefits of Raw Cabbage Juice by Supplementation

Raw cabbage juice has been an age old remedy for stomach and duodenal ulcers. Scientific research has confirmed it to be effective. However, the vast majority of ulcer sufferers do not have the intestinal fortitude to regularly consume this remedy. What is the magical ingredient in cabbage juice? Is more than one ingredient responsible? Can one recreate the benefits of raw cabbage juice by taking a handful of supplements?

The first person to investigate the anti-ulcer effects of raw cabbage juice on a large scale was Dr. Garrett Cheney. He treated 100 peptic ulcer sufferers with 4 glasses of raw cabbage juice daily with amazing results. Over two-thirds of the group found relief in days. Dr. Cheney found that the benefits were abolished if the juice was not fresh or heat treated. He named the unknown compound Vitamin U with the U denoting ‘Unknown’.

What is Responsible for Raw Cabbage Juice’s Benefits?

Well, like all plants, cabbage is a complex soup of compounds. The answer to the above caption is probably going to be that several compounds work to produce the anti-ulcer effects.

The compound that gets the most publicity is the amino acid L-glutamine. Cabbage is cited as being high in L-glutamine which is known to be beneficial to maintaining the lining of the digestive tract. However, I could not find a single citing of the actual content of glutamine in cabbage on a weight basis. Of course this will vary considerably due to genetic and environmental factors. Any readers know where this information can be found?

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Cabbage is also rich is sulfurous compounds which lends it that distinct smell when cooking. One compound is now equated with Vitamin U and is chemically known as S-methylmethionine. This compound promotes wound healing.

Another sulfur compound in cabbage called sulforaphane inhibits the ulcer forming bacteria, H. pylori.

One other compound of interest causes the stomach lining to produce mucin which reduces inflammation and coats the ulcers effectively creating a protective bandage. This compound is known as gefarnate which is a type of fat or lipid.

How Can I Recreate Cabbage Juice in Supplement Form?

• Try L-Glutamine Powder. This amazing amino acid has been covered in previous posts. Recommend two-to-three, 5 gram doses throughout the day mixed in with water or juice.

• Try a S-methylmethionine supplement. However, this supplement is hard to find. Since S-methylmethionine can be made in the body from the more readily available and popular supplement, S-adenosylmethionine, known as SAMe then this may be the way to go. Besides SAMe has a lot of other benefits from anti-depressive to liver health.

• Try a sulforaphane rich supplement. Broccoli sprouts are especially high in this compound.

• Try a mucin promoting supplement. Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice Root Extract or DGL for short.

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This approach is similar to what drug companies do when formulating drugs with multiple compounds and actions.