Vitamin U and Zinc-Carnosine for Stomach Pain, Ulcer, Leaky Gut

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Originally just about Vitamin U, I’ve recently added a section on Zinc-carnosine as well. Both Vitamin U and Zinc-carnosine help to rebuild and protect gastric mucosal lining. Whether dealing with H. pylori, digestive pain, full blown ulcers or trying to seal leaky gut, these two supplements have been well-studied and both have great reviews from patients.

Stomach Pain

I personally went years on a gut healing protocol without knowing the cause or solution for my stomach aches. They usually felt localized, a bit of sharp pain in one spot. Sometimes I could trace them to eating a big meal or certain foods. Other times I was at a loss for the cause.

I discovered liquid aloe (great stuff!) to soothe the pain, which helped the symptom. But I wanted to eliminate the problem completely in my goal for overall wellness.

Of course any kind of gnawing pain has the potential to be an ulcer — or worse.

Here’s what I finally learned and implemented … to soothe and heal my leaky gut.

What is Vitamin U?

Vitamin U, or methylmethionine sulfonium chloride (MMSC), is found in raw cabbage juice. It’s been used in medical studies for healing peptic ulcers, providing rapid relief from pain as well as healing to the compromised tissue. The first medical study of this kind was done back in 1949 with shockingly excellent results. Many of these patients couldn’t have surgery; but a quart of cabbage juice each day for 2-3 weeks, or dehydrated cabbage juice, healed them! (source)

Of the 92 patients with ulcer pain 86 of them were pain-free within 3.92 days!, on average. That’s a fast 95.9% success rate. 81% of them were pain-free within the first week.

These patients were spared long-term drug use, the standard medical treatment. This 1949 study concluded that vitamin U treatment was more effective than medications for the same condition, as it prompted a healing response in the body that lasted, unlike medications.

Zinc-Carnosine for Leaky Gut

Zinc-carnosine is another supplement to consider — with great clinical studies and patient reviews. The compound supports a healthy gastrointestinal lining and relieves mild gastric pains. Clinically tested, Zinc-carnosine protects and stabilizes the gastric and intestinal mucosal lining with “impressive results”. (source)

Zinc-carnosine is a man-produced derivative of carnosine in which a zinc ion and carnosine are bound in a 1-to-1 ratio to create a chelate compound. The chelate has been used in Japan since 1994 for gastric ulcers, gastritis and dyspepsia symptoms. Studies show that the combination chelate is three times more effective than the individual ingredients alone. (source)

This supplement supports a healthy microbial balance and helps to seal intestinal permeability. Patients who struggle with SIBO, histamine intolerance, ulcers, reflux, H. pylori and heartburn have all seen improvement.

How to recover from Leaky Gut with Vitamin U and Zinc-carnosine

Under ordinary circumstances, in a healthy gut, the stomach has a mucosal lining which protects it from the acid-pepsin digestive environment.

What is vitamin U doing? It’s providing this resistance, this protection. Vitamin U is high in L-glutamine and contains a unique form of methionine, an essential amino acid, which stimulates the production of mucous. It works as an antioxidant and, converted in the body, also serves as a methyl donor. (source and source) Vitamin U has a beneficial effect on the liver and even has a role in producing butyrate, that short chain fatty acid that contributes to a healthy colon. (source)

Vitamin U’s biological effects are not fully understood, and more clinical trials are warranted to better understand its uses and benefits.

Zinc-carnosine has been shown to prevent and treat inflammation. Data indicates that Zinc-carnosine may improve the health of epithelial cells and help to create the tight junction structure needed to seal leaky gut. (source)

Vitamin U and Zinc-carnosine supplement options

Look for a good vitamin U supplement with Methylmethionine Sulfonium and Zinc-carnosine (like this one); it contains mastic gum (for overcoming an H. pylori infection) and deglycerized licorice, as well as zinc for inflammation, all of which I discuss here, or one with just Zinc-carnosine (like this one).

These supplements are excellent for patients who find they need to metaphorically go back one step. Perhaps you’re unable to tolerate digestive aids like Betaine HCl or digestive bitters; they’re too strong, causing pain or other uncomfortable symptoms.

Perhaps you’re discouraged as you can’t make progress on a wellness diet, or you’re just starting out on GAPS, SCD, AIP or Keto.

If you feel fragile inside or that you need to make progress but it’s not happening, vitamin U and/or Zinc-carnosine may be JUST what you need.

If it’s true that all health starts in the gut, these supplements help to provide the mucosal lining that is fundamental to both healing and preventing food sensitivities. They shield and cause healing in the gut lining. And the results can be fast. 

I didn’t have a full-blown ulcer and for me relief was immediate and prophylactic; I just don’t get stomach aches anymore.

When you feel the timing is right, try adding in digestive bitters, like this one, which also helps to detoxify the liver. First consult your functional medical doctor or naturopath to be sure this course of action is right for your body.

Is this you? I’d love to hear your experiences with vitamin U or Zinc-carnosine. Let me know in the comments how they’ve worked for you.

Fun Fact

Vitamin U, or methylmethionine sulfonium chloride (MMSC), got its name from the Latin ulcus meaning sore or ulcer. The U essentially stands for ulcer!

Vitamin U for heart disease and kidney health

In 1979 another study was done with vitamin U and rats, which showed a benefit to kidney function and relief for those with hyperlipidemia, or high levels of fat in the blood. (source) While vitamin U thus showed itself to reduce the risk of heart disease, this line of study deserves further research.

Hyperlipidemia currently affects 71 million Americans. Dietary change, reducing stress and improving lifestyle, alongside vitamin U consumption and other supplements (milk thistle, garlic and several others), are recommended steps for reversing this dangerous diagnosis. These are all great alternatives to statins which are commonly prescribed, ineffective and laden with side effects.