{"doi":"10.1101/2025.02.17.25322298","title":"A MULTI-MINERAL INTERVENTION TO IMPROVE DISEASE-RELATED AND MECHANISTIC BIOMARKERS IN ULCERATIVE COLITIS PATIENTS","abstract":"ABSTRACT Introduction The long-term goal of our studies is to determine if, and to what extent, a multi-mineral product (Aquamin) could have beneficial impact on individuals with ulcerative colitis (UC). As a step toward achieving that goal, we carried out a 180-day biomarker trial in patients with UC in remission or at the mild stage. Approach A total of 28 subjects were included in the study. Each was randomized to receive either Aquamin for 180 days or placebo for the first 90 days. At day-90, placebo subjects crossed over to Aquamin for the final 90 days. At days-0, −90 and −180, serum samples were assessed for alkaline phosphatase (ALP), intestine-specific ALP (ALPI), C-reactive protein (CRP) and for biomarkers of bone turnover (osteocalcin, TRAP5b and bone-specific ALP [e.g., BALP]). Stool specimens were assessed for fecal calprotectin at the same time points and colon biopsies were examined histologically. Each subject underwent DEXA scanning (day-0 and −180 only). In addition, a mass spectrometry-based proteomic assessment was performed using colon biopsy specimens obtained at each time point. Results Subjects receiving Aquamin for the complete 180-day period (a total of 12) demonstrated improvement in all biomarkers; this was not seen in the placebo group (16 subjects). Subjects who received Aquamin for 90-days were intermediary in their responses. Subjects receiving Aquamin for 180-days also demonstrated increases in bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) resulting in a statistically-significant increase in the hip strength index over the period of treatment. This was accompanied by increases in osteocalcin and TRAP5b and by a decrease in BALP. The proteomic screen demonstrated up-regulation of multiple gut barrier proteins, cell surface transporter molecules and certain proteins with anti-inflammatory potential in response to Aquamin. Aquamin treatment also led to down-regulation of several proteins associated with the pro-inflammatory state. Conclusion These findings suggest the potential value of multi-mineral intervention (Aquamin) as a low-cost, non-toxic adjuvant therapy for mild UC or for individuals with UC in remission.","journal":"medRxiv","year":2025,"id":556055,"datarank":0.0,"base_score":0.0,"endowment":0.0,"self_citation_contribution":0.0,"citation_network_contribution":0.0,"self_endowment_contribution":0.0,"citer_contribution":0.0,"corpus_percentile":null,"corpus_rank":null,"citation_count":2,"citer_count":0,"citers_with_citation_signal":0,"citers_with_endowment":0,"datacite_reuse_total":0,"is_dataset":false,"is_dataset_confidence":0.9396,"is_data_producer":false,"deposit_databanks":null,"is_oa":true,"file_count":0,"downloads":0,"has_version_chain":false,"published_date":"2025-01-01","fair_score":null,"fair_percentile":null,"algorithm_id":"datarank_citation_only_1hop_v6","ranking_scope":"data_only","authors":[{"id":492579,"name":"D. Kim Turgeon","orcid":"0000-0003-1010-819X","position":1,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":460094,"name":"Henry D. Appelman","orcid":null,"position":2,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":1455390,"name":"Ryan Stidham","orcid":null,"position":3,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":474221,"name":"Shannon D. McClintock","orcid":null,"position":4,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":1454845,"name":"Ron Allen","orcid":"0009-0003-9020-1307","position":5,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":1455391,"name":"Gillian Moraga","orcid":null,"position":6,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":880530,"name":"Isabelle Harber","orcid":"0009-0002-0273-0165","position":7,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":1203057,"name":"Kara J. Jencks","orcid":"0000-0002-4248-5291","position":8,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":1454846,"name":"Molly M. McNeely","orcid":"0000-0002-1161-7669","position":9,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":612770,"name":"Ananda Sen","orcid":"0000-0002-9632-6704","position":10,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":440113,"name":"Karl J. Jepsen","orcid":"0000-0002-2903-9940","position":11,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":474223,"name":"James Varani","orcid":null,"position":12,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":473271,"name":"Muhammad N. Aslam","orcid":"0000-0003-1361-5357","position":0,"is_corresponding":true}],"reference_count":77,"raw_metadata":null,"created_at":"2026-07-19T02:55:03.976486Z","pmid":null,"pmcid":null,"fwci":null,"citation_percentile":null,"influential_citations":0,"oa_status":null,"license":null,"views":0,"total_file_size_bytes":0,"version_count":0,"fair_f":null,"fair_a":null,"fair_i":null,"fair_r":null,"fair_zscore":null,"fair_rationale":null,"fair_model":null,"fair_agent_version":null,"fair_fulltext_source":null,"fair_has_llm":null,"fair_computed_at":null,"clinical_trials":[],"software_tools":[],"db_accessions":[],"linked_datasets":[],"topics":[]}