The invention provides a method of ameliorating inflammation in a patient involving administering to the patient a therapeutically effective dose of composition including polystyrene divinyl benzene copolymer and a polyvinyl pyrrolidone polymer. More particularly, the method relates to using these polymers as an enteral sorbent preparation to remove inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines, from the intestinal lumen. The polymers can be in the form of a preparation of polystyrene divinyl benzene copolymer beads with a biocompatible polyvinyl pyrrolidone polymer coating.