The observed success of the low-FODMAP diet in reducing gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in IBS made a group of researchers ask whether the diet could also address functional GI symptoms in those with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) such as Crohn's disease. This idea was explored in a recent study from the group at Monash University (Australia) that originally developed and tested the low-FODMAP diet.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a family of intestinal disorders including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) that are characterized by chronic and recurring periods of severe colonic (UC) or intestinal (CD) inflammation and extraintestinal symptoms.

Understandings of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have advanced in recent years, informed by studies that have investigated the role of the gut microbiota in disease pathogenesis and progression. Prof. Harry Sokol is a gastroenterologist and researcher from France who has participated in this pioneering work. At the Gut Microbiota for Health World Summit 2016 in Miami, Sokol took the time to speak with GMFH editors.

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) has shown mixed clinical results (see recent trials here and here). In a new pilot study, published as open access, Faming Zhang and colleagues tested the safety and efficacy of a "step-up" FMT strategy in 15 steroid-dependent UC patients.

Treating IBD by targeting the gut microbiota

2 Oct 2015

by Kristina Campbell

The exact cause of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains unclear, but more and more evidence suggests the gut microbiome contributes to disease pathogenesis.

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