Medical Health Encyclopedia

Medications containing 5-aminosalicylate (5-ASA)are sometimes given to patients with ulcerative colitis to help control inflammation. These drugs, which include sulfasalazine and mesalamine, are chemically related to aspirin. A 2005 review of clinical trials found that patients with ulcerative colitis who used 5-ASA were 49% less likely to develop colorectal cancer than patients who did not use these drugs

Ursodiol

Ursodiol is a drug sometimes used to treat gallstones or a rare inflammation of the bile ducts associated with ulcerative colitis. It helps reduce deoxycholic acid levels, a bile acid that has tumor-promoting properties. Animal studies have indicated colon cancer protection with the drug, but a 2002 study found no protective benefits for humans.

Melatonin

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Melatonin is a hormone found in the brain that is mostly associated with its role in sleep. Researchers have also observed that the gastrointestinal tract is rich in melatonin, and that the hormone may have properties that help prevent ulcers, reduce acid secretion, and improve blood flow. It is not known whether this would help prevent colon cancer, but it appears to warrant some research. It should be stressed that melatonin is currently classified as a dietary supplement and not as a drug, so its purity, safety, and effectiveness are uncontrolled in the US. Melatonin is a powerful hormone that can have major effects, many still unknown, on many parts of the body. The bottom line is that at this time, people who take melatonin are experimenting on themselves.