Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2023 Sep;52(3):565-577.doi: 10.1016/j.gtc.2023.05.011.

Lindsey Albenberg ¹

Author information

¹Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 2716 South Street, 14-140, Philadelphia, PA 19146, USA. Electronic address: albenbergl@chop.edu.

Abstract

The pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) involves a complex interaction between genetics, immune response, and the environment. Epidemiologic associations between diet and development of IBD plus the ability of diet to modify the microbiota and modulate immune function have led to the hypothesis that diet can prevent and/or treat IBD. It is well established that the induction of remission and healing of the mucosa in Crohn's disease can be accomplished with exclusive enteral nutrition. Whole food-based alternatives such as the Crohn's disease exclusion diet have shown promising results.