Emu Oil: A Potential Adjunct to Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treatment?

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, is a chronic lifelong condition that affects the colon to a variable extent. Current treatments for IBD include aminosalicylate-based drugs, corticosteroids, antibiotics, immunomodulators, biologics, other small-molecule drugs, and surgical intervention. Nonetheless, treatment options are variably effective, associated with serious side effects, and often leave individuals at risk of relapse.

In this narrative review, we explore emu oil (EO), a naturally sourced agent, that may be utilised to broaden therapeutic options in IBD. The anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, reparative, and protective properties of EO have been attributed to its unique blend of fatty acids and non-triglyceride fraction. To date, several preclinical trials of orally administered EO have demonstrated these properties in a range of intestinal inflammatory conditions, showing reduced inflammation and mucosal damage, together enhancing intestinal healing.

While EO remains an interesting candidate for future investigations, current knowledge is limited to animal models and its clinical relevance is yet to be defined. Well-designed clinical trials will be essential to determine the safety and efficacy of EO before it can be considered as a potential adjunct to conventional therapy for IBD.