Effects of Carrageenan-Elimination Diet on Ulcerative Colitis Disease Activity

The study hypothesis is that withdrawal of carrageenan will lead to a longer, relapse free interval in patients with ulcerative colitis.

This study will evaluate the interval to relapse in patients with ulcerative colitis. The patients will be adults, who have been in remission for at least one month. They will have previously required corticosteroids to induce remission. Subjects will be instructed in a no-carrageenan diet and required to follow this diet for the duration of their participation in the clinical study. They will be randomized to receive either placebo capsules or capsules containing carrageenan 100 mg. In this way, the study will be a double blind study of no-carrageenan vs. carrageenan. Main study outcome is the interval to relapse. Since ulcerative colitis is associated with relapses, relapse is anticipated. Other outcome measures will include scores on questionnaires, including the SSCAI and the SIDBQ, and laboratory measurements of inflammation.

Subjects will participate for one year or until relapse, with study visits every three months and telephone contacts every two weeks. After three months, participants will increase to two capsules daily, of either placebo or carrageenan.

• Dietary Supplement: carrageenan
  The intervention is the carrageenan-free diet. Supplementary carrageenan capsules will be given to mimic the carrageenan in the normal diet.
• Other: dietary intervention with no-carrageenan diet
  The intervention will consist of the no-carrageenan diet.

• Experimental: carrageenan-free diet with placebo
  This is the experimental arm in which subjects will be on a no-carrageenan diet and receive placebo capsules. This will test whether the no carrageenan diet leads to longer relapse-free interval for patients with ulcerative colitis.
  Intervention: Other: dietary intervention with no-carrageenan diet
• Active Comparator: carrageenan-free diet w/ carrageenan
  The carrageenan-free diet with carrageenan supplement will mimic the carrageenan normally consumed in the diet. The study will permit blinded comparison of carrageenan-free vs. carrageenan consumption.
  Intervention: Dietary Supplement: carrageenan

Inclusion Criteria:

• Ulcerative colitis
• Adult
• In remission
• Required corticosteroids to induce remission
• Able to make food choices and follow diet

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not able to make food choices

• The Broad Foundation
• University of Chicago