Since it has no symptoms, melanosis coli is usually identified during acolonoscopy.
These laxatives are also commonly called anthranoids.
The intestinal discoloration may be seen as early as four months after you start regularly using herbal laxatives.
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As the damaged cells accumulate, the pigmentation also accumulates, and melanosis coli occurs.
Melanosis coli got its name because it was initially believed that the color change resulted from the pigment melanin.
However, research shows that lipofuscina pigment associated with agingis responsible for the dark color.
How Is Melanosis Coli Diagnosed?
Cancer Risk
Mostgastroenterologistsconsider melanosis coli to be a harmless condition.
Studies have not found an association between melanosis coli and an increased risk ofcolorectal cancerin humans.
The reason for the ban was that animal studies showed that using large amounts of phenolphthalein caused tumors.
However, phenolphthalein hasn’t been shown to cause tumors in humans.
The study also found that there was no melanosis inside the tumors studied.
Studies have shown an association between constipation and colon cancer, but it isn’t known why.
Once these laxatives are discontinued, it’s possible that the condition will disappear within six to 12 months.
Doll R, Hostoffer R.Disappearance of melanosis coli after administration of IVIG.Am J Gastroenterol.
A case-control retrospective study of 657 cases.PLoS ONE.2017;12(10):e0186668.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0186668
Ricciuti B, Leone MC, Metro G.Melanosis coli or ischaemic colitis?
That is the question.BMJ Case Rep.2015;bcr2015212404.
