Benefits, Side Effects, Foods, and More

Vitamin U is a time period launched within the early Fifties to establish a compound in cabbage juice. Regardless of its identify, vitamin U shouldn’t be a real vitamin however somewhat a by-product of the amino acid methionine (1).

Examples of methionine derivatives usually referred to as vitamin U embody S-methylmethionine (SMM), methylmethionine sulfonium (SMM), and 3-amino-3-carboxypropyl dimethylsulfonium.

Vitamin U is offered not solely as a complement but in addition discovered naturally in numerous meals, significantly cruciferous greens like cabbage, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, and kale (1).

Plus, cosmetics corporations might add it to sure lotions, serums, face masks, and different merchandise.

Vitamin U is most frequently marketed as a remedy for abdomen ulcers, although it’s additionally touted to enhance digestion, strengthen immune well being, shield in opposition to meals allergic reactions, decrease ldl cholesterol, and hasten wound therapeutic.

Nonetheless, analysis is restricted. Solely a handful of those advantages are presently backed by science.

Could assist abdomen ulcers heal

When vitamin U was initially researched within the Fifties, some research instructed that consuming 1 quart (945 mL) of cabbage juice each day helped gut ulcers heal 4–5 instances sooner than the usual anti-ulcer remedy obtainable on the time (2, 3, 4).

But, researchers couldn’t affirm whether or not these results have been on account of vitamin U or a number of vitamins.

Since then, few research have examined the subject. To find out whether or not vitamin U is actually efficient in opposition to ulcers, extra analysis is required.

Could shield your lungs, liver, and kidneys

Vitamin U might safeguard your lungs, liver, and kidneys from injury.

In an animal examine, vitamin U helped reverse among the liver damage brought on by the frequent anti-seizure medicine valproic acid (5).

In one other examine, rats given vitamin U skilled much less extreme kidney injury after receiving valproic acid than these given no vitamin U. This substance additionally appeared to scale back markers of irritation (6).

Animal analysis additional means that vitamin U might assist scale back lung injury ensuing from epileptic seizures (7).

Nonetheless, human research are essential.

Could decrease ldl cholesterol and triglyceride ranges

Whereas some proof helps the notion that vitamin U dietary supplements assist scale back ldl cholesterol and triglyceride ranges, proof stays weak.

As an illustration, one test-tube examine means that vitamin U might forestall the creation of fats cells and reduce triglyceride levels, however few related human research exist (8).

In an 8-week examine, folks given 1.5 grams of vitamin U per day skilled no change in triglyceride ranges, greater HDL (good) ldl cholesterol, and an virtually 10% discount in total cholesterol. But, this examine may be very dated and included few contributors (9).

As such, extra human analysis is required.

Could assist wound therapeutic and pores and skin safety

Vitamin U might provide some safety in opposition to the solar’s ultraviolet (UV) rays, in addition to expedite wound healing.

Take a look at-tube and animal research report that making use of vitamin U on to wounds might velocity wound closure. Furthermore, vitamin U seems to guard in opposition to burns and different damage caused by UV rays (10, 11, 12, 13).

Primarily based on these findings, some researchers recommend that sure cosmetics ought to be formulated with vitamin U.

But, an absence of human analysis implies that additional research are essential.

Vitamin U is probably going protected when eaten instantly from entire meals. Nonetheless, little is thought about its security or potential unwanted effects in complement kind.

Due to this fact, it’s seemingly most secure to depend on vitamin-U-rich meals like cabbage, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, and kale to spice up your consumption of this compound.

In accordance with the European Chemical compounds Company, vitamin U might trigger eye, pores and skin, or lung irritation if it comes into direct contact with these organs. Thus, you might wish to use warning with skincare merchandise containing this compound (14).

As a consequence of restricted analysis, vitamin U dosage suggestions haven’t been established.

One human examine utilized 1.5 grams of vitamin U for 8 weeks (9).

Nonetheless, this examine is dated and didn’t take a look at any different dosages or durations. As such, extra analysis is required.

Thus far, there have been no reported circumstances of vitamin U overdose.

An overdose may be very unlikely when you devour this compound solely from entire meals. Remember that research haven’t but examined the results of excessive vitamin U consumption from dietary supplements.

This makes it unimaginable to rule out the potential for a vitamin U overdose.

As such, extra analysis is required to grasp whether or not an overdose is feasible, the indicators and signs related to it, and the most secure approach to deal with it.

There isn’t sufficient scientific data obtainable to find out whether or not vitamin U interacts with every other dietary supplements or medicine.

Folks taking different dietary supplements or medicines ought to talk about vitamin U with their healthcare supplier earlier than making an attempt it.

Vitamin U producers sometimes suggest that vitamin U dietary supplements or merchandise be saved in a dry, cool space away from direct daylight.

Merchandise containing this substance might also be refrigerated, although this isn’t essential.

Vitamin-U-rich meals like cabbage, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, and kale are broadly thought of fit for human consumption throughout being pregnant and breastfeeding.

But, little is thought concerning the security of vitamin U in complement kind. Due to this fact, it’s best to take into account avoiding these dietary supplements when you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.

Meals naturally wealthy in vitamin U, similar to cruciferous veggies, are typically thought of protected for most individuals. Nonetheless, little is thought concerning the security of vitamin U dietary supplements for any particular populations.

Till extra analysis is offered, these curious about growing their vitamin U consumption ought to achieve this by means of meals somewhat than dietary supplements.

There aren’t any identified direct alternate options to vitamin U. Extra analysis can be wanted to establish them.