Diet in the Pathogenesis and Management of Ulcerative Colitis; A Review of Randomized Controlled Dietary Interventions

Keshteli AH, Madsen KL, Dieleman LA · Nutrients · 2019 June 30

Objective

To investigate the potential mechanisms of the relationship between diet and pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis, as well as summarize randomized controlled dietary interventions conducted in ulcerative colitis patients.

Conclusions

The study concludes that although many patients associate symptoms or disease relapse with dietary factors, there is a lack of well-designed randomized controlled trials investigating the role of diet in managing ulcerative colitis.

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Insights

The diet might influence the onset and pathophysiology of ulcerative colitis, and can potentially be used in its management.

The methodology used in reviewed studies relies typically on both epidemiological and experimental approaches to examine the relationship between diet and the onset and progression of ulcerative colitis. A combination of observational data from patients and well-structured randomized control trials have been undertaken, investigating both the potential causative effects of diet and its role in symptom management. In discussing the results, it is suggested that dietary factors do play a significant role in both the onset and the progression of ulcerative colitis. Though more data is needed through further trials, preliminarily, the manipulation of diet appears to have potential in managing the disease, indicating that dietary changes could either alleviate symptoms or trigger disease relapse. This points to an important role of diet in the approach to ulcerative colitis, a significant divergence from previous understandings of the disease.