Aid for Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Clinoptilolite

Excerpt from "Clinoptilolite in Dextran Sulphate Sodium-Induced Murine Colitis: Efficacy and Safety of a Microparticulate Preparation..."

Clinoptilolite is an aluminum silicate of natural origin; the microporous structure and the net negative charge of its crystal lattice allows for adsorption of ions, toxins, inflammatory mediators, and some microorganisms.

Two preparations of clinoptilolite were studied: a standard powder (GHC1, with a size of 3.6 µm) and a microparticulate fraction (GHC2) with a size 0.39 µm. These were examined for their ability to accelerate the recovery of mice from induced intestinal inflammation. Efficacy of clinoptilolite preparations was investigated by administering DSS-treated mice twice daily with 30 mg GHC2 or GHC1 for 5 consecutive days, followed by 5 days of recovery without DSS. To explore the safety of the microparticulate preparation (GHC2), mice were subjected to 4 cycles of DSS-exposure.

Treatment of mice with GHC2 was superior to GHC1 and as effective as the reference compound 5-aminosalicylic acid in ameliorating the damage induced by the exposure to DSS. In addition, no clinoptilolite particle was observed in the intestinal epithelial layer, gut-associated lymph follicles, or in the liver.

To review the original study, click here.