Vitamin U Supplements Emerge From the Unknown

Does the thought of drinking a tall glass of cabbage juice make you sick to your stomach? Think again! Raw cabbage and the juice extracted from it have been consumed for centuries, and its natural health benefits have been touted for centuries. Raw cabbage is probably most widely known for its reputation as an aid in the treatment of digestive difficulties, peptic ulcers, and certain skin conditions.

Vitamin, Vegetable or Compound?

Chemically, the active ingredient found in cabbage that is responsible for gastro-intestinal aid is called Methylmethioninesulfonium Chloride, or Vitamin U. Also known as “cabigin,” it is technically not a vitamin at all. No evidence has been found to support the indicate that Vitamin U is essential to metabolic functioning – one of the key requirements of a true vitamin be accepted definition. Regardless of the misnomer, Vitamin U’s ability to relieve and even cure certain kinds of ulcers and its effectiveness in treating a host of other gastrointestinal troubles is purportedly confirmed by numerous scientific experiments worldwide.

Venturing Into the Unknown

In the 1950s, Dr. Garnett Cheney, M.D. and professor at the University of California, treated 100 peptic ulcer patients with cabbage juice. He had subjects drink four glasses of juice generated from raw cabbage daily. The results he reported were nothing short of amazing.

Within the first week, 81% of Dr. Cheney’s patients were essentially cured. These patients showed no signs of ulcers whatsoever after 7 days of the cabbage juice treatment. Other patients reported relief within the first four days. X-ray observations of Dr. Cheney’s patients showed a dramatic reduction in ulcer healing time. Dr. Cheney’s patients’ ulcers healed in days in comparison with conventional hospital treatments which typically require more than a month to produce results.

Dr. Cheney called the Methylmethioninesulfonium Chloride compound the “unknown” vitamin or the “ulcer” vitamin, and allegedly coined the term Vitamin U. Sources differ as to what the ‘U’ in Vitamin U truly denotes, or how it in fact originated. For those who claim to have benefited from Vitamin U treatment, the U stands for Unbelievable results and effectiveness.

Are Vitamin U Supplements Available?

For those seeking the benefits of Vitamin U sans raw cabbage consumption, supplements are now available. Today, Vitamin U comes in a variety of forms – from liquid concentrates to powders to capsules. The widening manufacture, distribution and promotion of Vitamin U supplements means they are easier than ever to access. They are increasingly available online, in health stores and directly from manufacturers.

The USDA has no established RDA for Vitamin U supplements, nor does it acknowledge any scientific basis for the therapeutic value they may provide. No guidelines are currently provided by the USDA for dosage, safe consumption, or toxicity levels. Although there have been no reports of toxicity and its benefits are widely reported, consumers are advised to consult with their physician for the latest information on Vitamin U supplements prior to consumption.