Many people may not be well aware of Vitamin U, or it would not be classified into vitamins. It originated in the early 1950s to describe a compound found in cabbage juice.
S-methyl methionine sulfonium chloride (MMSC) is the chemical formula for vitamin U. It was originally used to cure gut ulcers, hence the name vitamin U. This substance is found naturally in flowering vegetables, herbs and plants. When consumed, it has a wide range of impacts on health.
Most vitamins are natural substances which are needed by the body for normal maintenance, growth, and function. Similarly, vitamin U is a highly active compound, but it does not have many proven benefits. It is said to offer some impact on body growth and development with a boost in immunity, and metabolism, keeping nerves healthy, getting energy and shielding us from various diseases, but they still need to be backed by science.
Due to its lesser proven effects, it is still not considered a true vitamin but a derivative of amino acid from methionine. At the very least, the vitamin may serve as a more organic and secure holistic remedy substitute to common medications for treating acid reflux disease. Acid indigestion, also known as gastric reflux, is the precursor to an ulcer.
Vitamin U Sources
The vitamin uses and advantages of this compound are mostly derived from methionine amino acids, which are found in vegetables, particularly cruciferous veggies such as
1. Cabbage
Vitamin U was first tested for peptic ulcers with raw cabbage juice, which appeared to be successful in encouraging the healing process of uncluttered peptic ulcers. The finding of therapeutic value includes rapid relief of symptoms, pain relief without the need for a set plan of symptomatic, and a shortened ulcer recovery period than other standard therapies.
2. Brussels sprouts
They contain higher vitamins, fibre, and other nutrients with vitamin U nourishments. It can help with frequency, and gut health, lowering the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
3. Broccoli
Broccoli is another vegetable that belongs to the green vegetable family and contains more vitamin U nutrients. It tastes wonderful with healthy essential nutrients that boost overall body development.
4. Spinach
Spinach is yet another leafy green vegetable that is rich in vitamin U. Apart from maintaining your digestive system healthy, spinach is also good for your eyes and blood sugar control.
5. Kale
It is high in fibre, calcium, and iron, as well as vitamin U. According to The National Centre For Biotechnology, this green vegetable delivers vitamin U that may assist in curing ulcers, reduces inflammatory responses, food allergies, and indigestion, as well as boost the body’s immune system.
6. Asparagus
Weight loss, enhanced digestive process, a healthy pregnancy, and decreased blood pressure are all possible health benefits of asparagus. The vitamin benefits of this food item might provide some positive effects.
You can also source some of this vitamin U nutrient from celery, kohlrabi, turnips, tomatoes, custard apples, beetroots, carrots, etc. It is best to consume these vegetables raw to get the most vitamin U. It can also be discovered in animal-based sources such as egg yolks and milk. Several kinds of tea contain this compound, like green teas, which offer higher vitamin U.
Vitamin U Benefits
Here are a few vitamin benefits of this compound and its general uses that provide you with a detailed inside of its effectiveness.
1. May Help Heal Stomach Ulcers
By consuming 945ml of cabbage juice daily, this vitamin is said to cure peptic ulcers 4-5 times faster. The MMSC found in vitamin U has many anti-peptic ulcer properties. It aids in the development of protective gastrointestinal mucus, which acts as an antioxidant and serves as a methyl donor in a variety of important reactions. MMSC also helps with normal stomach healing.
Even though there is not enough research to support this claim 100%, it might provide some benefits to treat peptic ulcer issues, both gastric and duodenal. This vitamin not only treats stomach ulcers, but seems anecdotal towards other GI conditions and health problems such as esophagogastric lesions, chronic gastritis, ulcerative colitis, and hernias.
2. Might Help Protect Lungs, Liver, and Kidneys
Vitamin U may protect your lungs, liver, and kidneys from long-term damage. In some studies, it managed to help counteract certain types of liver damage done by the commonly used anti-seizure medication valproic acid.
In another study, vitamin U reduced severe kidney damage caused by valproic acid. It also helps decrease inflammatory markers. It is also thought that vitamin U may help to reduce respiratory system damage caused by epileptic seizures. This benefit may also need some concrete studies and research.
3. Promotes Skin Healing and Protection
Your skin will benefit from MMSC as it supports the development and migration of dermal fibroblasts in humans, which aids in the healing process. This action hastens the healing of skin damage from within.
Safeguarding against ultra-violet (UV) light-induced dermatitis is one of the advantages associated with taking vitamin U. UV light is recognised as a carcinogen and causes skin cancer. It functions via deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) impairment, genetic abnormalities, and skin harm caused by oxygen species that are reactive.
These vitamin benefits also help skin care products to defend the skin from damage caused by the sun, swelling, redness, and irritations, among other things.
4. Lowers Cholesterol and Triglyceride Levels
While some evidence proves the concept that vitamin U supplements greatly lessen cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Although vitamin U may avoid the development of fat cells and lower triglyceride levels, there aren’t many human studies on the subject.
Some research shows that triglyceride levels remained stable while cholesterol levels increased, lowering the cardiovascular disease risk.
5. Triggers Metabolism and Fat Reduction
During the metabolism process, lipotropic compounds help accelerate the fat’s breakdown. Because of this vitamin benefit, it protects the liver from the destructible consequences of calorie deterioration.
6. Helps Cure Allergic Responses
Antihistamines are medications used to treat allergy symptoms. Vitamin U is said to have antihistamine properties, which implies it may be beneficial for managing allergies such as nose allergies that cause respiratory problems, asthma and different food intolerance.
Vitamin U Side Effects
When consumed in its entirety, vitamin U is regarded as totally safe. Mostly vitamin U has no negative effects, so its intake may not be hampered by any water-soluble fat. But there might be very little information available about all the vitamin side effects of this nutrient. To obtain vitamin U safely and more efficiently, it is best to eat cruciferous vegetables.
According to the European Chemicals Agency, Vitamin U can cause eye, skin, and respiratory problems when it comes into physical contact with these organs. As a result, use these vitamin U-containing skin-care products with caution.
Foods high in vitamin U are deemed healthy and safe to ingest during pregnancy, but there may be some unidentified side effects. Vitamin U is a soluble vitamin in water, consuming them in large quantities might not harm your body as they easily get excreted out. As a result, little is known about its overdose and vitamin side effects.
Conclusion
Because of the scarcity of studies, it is challenging to figure out the influence of vitamin U on a wide range of subjects. Many more in-depth investigations are needed before vitamin U can be officially claimed to assist in healing gut peptic ulcers, boost metabolism, enhance immunity, counteract liver damage, decrease lung damage, and do other things.
Supplements of vitamin U are also available and frequently utilised. However, trying to eat whole foods rich in vitamin U is the most efficient means of increasing overall intake. The few rat experiments that have been carried out are insufficient to assess the effectiveness of this vitamin as a remedy for an array of ailments mentioned above.
While eating cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and other cruciferous vegetables that contain Vitamin U will not hinder your health, there isn’t any clear proof that ingesting them will deliver the mentioned benefits, but they might not have any adverse effects as well.
