"IBD is caused by food" - Mythbuster

The Myth: IBD is caused by food

The Truth: There is no single cause of IBD - the mechanisms behind the onset of IBD are multi factorial and complex. There is evidence that certain dietary patterns and habits could increase the risk of developing IBD but it is not as simple as food causes IBD.

So what does cause IBD and how is diet involved?

 

What causes IBD?

Cause of IBD is multifactorial and complex but is thought to be a combination of the following:

  • Genetic susceptibility

  • An alteration in the composition of the gut microbiota (environmental trigger – stress/trauma, diet, antibiotics, gastroenteritis, food poisoning etc).

  • Inappropriate immune response (autoimmunity) (1).

 

What is the role of diet and lifestyle in the onset of IBD?

Over the last 50 years IBD has increased across the globe. There is a genetic component to the risk of developing Crohn’s and Colitis but interestingly genes cannot change that much within such a short time frame so we cannot put this increased risk down to genetics.

This points towards other factors driving this increase – namely lifestyle factors. This can be fascinatingly illustrated when we look at people moving from low IBD areas to high IBD areas and how that changes their risk of developing IBD. What the research shows is that when a person or family moves from a low to a high IBD area, for example, moving from Asia to the UK, by the second generation of that family there is the same risk of developing IBD as the local population (3).

So, what changes? Lifestyle – dietary habits, urbanisation and industrialisation have been suggested an explanation for this worldwide increase in IBD (4).

This is where the famous saying comes in – genetics loads the gun; environment pulls the trigger.

A western diet, which is high in fat, protein, and refined sugar and low in fruits and vegetables, is thought to play an important role in the onset of IBD and increases the risk of IBD (5).

I have written a free e-book to help you find a way forward for your everyday life with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Whether you are right at the beginning of your journey with IBD or have been living with your condition for years and feel like you have tried almost everything, there are things you can do everyday, beyond the medication you are taking, to help you take back control and feel better.

Disclaimer: All content found on the nalmclinic.com website, including: text, video, or other formats have been created for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor, consultant or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

We are all wonderfully unique and what works for one person may not work for another so please seek help and advice before changing your diet to work out the right way forward for you.

 References

  1. Pigneur, B., & Ruemmele, F. M. (2019). Nutritional interventions for the treatment of IBD: current evidence and controversies. Therapeutic advances in gastroenterology, 12, 1756284819890534. https://doi.org/10.1177/1756284819890534

  2. Ng SC, Shi HY, Hamidi N, et al. (2018) Worldwide incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease in the 21st century: a systematic review of population-based studies. Lancet; 390: 2769–2778.

  3. Misra R, Faiz O, Munkholm P, et al. (2018) Epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease in racial and ethnic migrant groups. World J Gastroenterol; 24: 424–437. 

  4. Kaplan GG, Ng SC. Understanding and preventing the global increase of inflammatory bowel disease. Gastroenterology 2017; 152: 313–321, e2.

  5. Amre DK, D’Souza S, Morgan K, et al. Imbalances in dietary consumption of fatty acids, vegetables, and fruits are associated with risk for Crohn’s disease in children. Am J Gastroenterol 2007; 102: 2016–2025.

  6. Hou JK, Abraham B, El-Serag H. Dietary intake and risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review of the literature. Am J Gastroenterol 2011; 106: 563–573.

Clemmie Macpherson