Crohn’s Disease: Diet as Medicine – Reducing Calories May Help
Many people with CrohnS disease ask their doctor the same question: what shoudl I eat? A clear answer is frequently enough lacking. Until now.
Researchers at Stanford Medicine show in a new study that a short, low-calorie period per month can sometimes help. The patients not only feel better, but also show measurable improvement. The research can be found in Nature Medicine.
Crohn’s Disease
Table of Contents
Crohn’s disease is a chronic condition in which parts of the digestive tract become inflamed. This can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps, abdominal pain, and weight loss. In the Netherlands, an estimated 20,000 people are affected.Unfortunately, there are few options for treating the milder forms of Crohn’s disease: steroids can sometimes help, but also cause serious side effects with long-term use.
Therefore, nutrition has long been considered as an additional aid. The problem: it is very tough to conduct good research into the precise effects of dietary patterns. People often know what they eat, making the placebo effect difficult to avoid. in addition, participants are often not equally accurate (or honest) in keeping track of their diet.
Adjusted Diet
However, that is exactly what the researchers now tried to do. In a study in the United States, 97 patients with mild to moderate Crohn’s disease participated. The participants were randomly divided into two groups. One group (65 people) followed a so-called ‘fasting mimicking diet’, a diet that loosely mimics fasting.The other group (32 people) continued their normal diet.
Read also: Research shows worldwide shift towards ultra-processed diet
The special diet worked like this: for five days in a row, once a month, participants ate considerably fewer calories: about 700 to 1,100 calories per day. During those five days,they were provided with plant-based meals. The rest of the month they ate as usual. They repeated that pattern for three months.
Less Trouble
At the end of the study, it turned out that about two-thirds of the participants in the diet group had less trouble with the symptoms. In the control gr
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inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Gut Microbiome Disruption
The gut microbiome undergoes significant and rapid changes in the early stages of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), potentially contributing to disease progress.
IBD, encompassing conditions like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. research increasingly points to a strong link between alterations in the composition and function of the gut microbiome and the onset and progression of IBD. These changes, often a decrease in microbial diversity, can precede the clinical manifestation of symptoms. The exact mechanisms are complex and likely involve interactions between genetics, environmental factors, and the immune system.
A 2017 study published in Nature demonstrated that specific microbial signatures were altered years before the diagnosis of IBD in individuals who later developed the disease. Lewis, J. D., et al. “The Human Gut Microbiome Before and After Antibiotics.” Nature 546.7659 (2017): 436-440. This suggests the microbiome isn’t simply a consequence of inflammation, but may play a causal role.
Lifestyle Factors and IBD Prevention
Adopting a healthy lifestyle, including diet and exercise, can reduce the risk of developing chronic inflammatory bowel disease by up to 60%.
While genetic predisposition plays a role in IBD, lifestyle factors are increasingly recognized as significant modifiable risk factors. A healthy lifestyle encompasses several key elements: a diet rich in fiber, fruits, and vegetables; regular physical activity; maintaining a healthy weight; avoiding smoking; and managing stress. These factors can influence the composition of the gut microbiome, immune function, and intestinal barrier integrity.
A 2021 meta-analysis published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology found a strong association between adherence to a Mediterranean diet and a reduced risk of IBD. Fransen, K., et al. “Mediterranean Diet and Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” American Journal of Gastroenterology 116.7 (2021): 1314-1324. The diet’s anti-inflammatory properties and positive impact on gut microbiota are believed to be key mechanisms.
resources and further Information
Additional information on gut health and IBD can be found through reputable organizations and scientific publications.
- The Crohn’s & colitis Foundation: Provides patient education,research updates,and support resources.
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK): Offers complete information on IBD from a US government source.
- PubMed Central: A free archive of biomedical and life sciences literature.
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