The low amount of bacteria from the gut microbiota able to process bilirubin, a product of heme degradation, during the neonatal period of life suggests a strong connection between the microbiome composition and development of jaundice in infants. In other words, the lack of certain bacteria in the gut of infants seems to be linked to the risk of developing jaundice.

Dietary fibers, known to regulate intestinal inflammation and gut barrier functions, have been avoided by patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) to avoid flare-ups. However, recent findings suggest that if fiber type, patient immunological condition, and the fermentative ability of the gut microbiota are taken into account, they could be beneficial and prevent relapses.

Restricting dietary fiber is a common advice for people living with inflammatory bowel disease. New research shows that not all fibers work the same and their impact on intestinal inflammation and gut barrier function depends on the type of fiber, individual immune status and the fermentative capacity of their gut microbes.

Study identifies a role for bacterial proteases in Crohn’s disease

26 Jun 2023

by Amber Hann, Heather Galipeau

Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic remitting and relapsing condition that causes severe inflammation of the intestines and disabling bowel symptoms. It affects millions of lives globally, and although alterations in the gut microbiome have been associated with IBD, precise mechanisms remain incompletely understood. New research from McMaster University now implicates bacterial proteases in Crohn’s disease.

What to eat or not to eat as a means of reducing IBD symptoms is one of the main queries a patient might have following diagnosis. Although there is no simple answer and dietary changes are not a substitute for medical therapy, to help consider this question, we have prepared a new infographic on the dietary components to promote and limit in patients with IBD.

Despite the fact that current guidelines for managing inflammatory bowel diseases do not devote attention to diet as a central element of treatment, there is an increasing amount of evidence that supports the role of diet in patients with IBD. A new nationwide cohort study shows the association between the level of inflammatory potential in diet and risk of Crohn’s disease.

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