Nutrition and diet in inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

Purpose of review: This study was to review the current evidence for dietary risk factors for developing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and therapeutic benefit of dietary and enteral interventions in IBD.

Recent findings: A Westernized diet rich in protein, fats and refined carbohydrates and low in fibre, fruits and vegetables may increase risk of developing IBD. Nevertheless, there are methodological limitations in case-control studies, which can affect the accuracy of the outcomes. Currently, various dietary interventions and supplements have been attempted to control the disease activity of IBD, but none of them showed striking efficacy. Exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) is recommended as the first-line therapy in paediatric patients with active Crohn's disease. EEN is recommended in adults with good adherence to enteral formula and with intolerance to corticosteroids. Partial enteral nutrition is not recommended as primary therapy for the maintenance of remission, but it is used when undernutrition cannot be treated sufficiently with diets.

Summary: Dietary risk factors for IBD, and the efficacies of dietary and enteral interventions need to be confirmed by large, well designed studies.