Maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis with sulphasalazine or a high-fibre diet: a clinical trial.

Twenty patients with ulcerative colitis in remission were asked to eat a high-fibre diet including 25 g bran daily and, if possible, to discontinue maintenance therapy with sulphasalazine. Only five patients (25 per cent) were able to do this and remained in remission for six months. In contrast,of 15 patients asked to continue susphasalazine and their normal diet 12 (80 per cent) remained in remission. A high-fibre diet is unable to replace sulphasalazine as maintenance treatment of ulcerative colitis in remission.