- Irritable bowel disorder (IBD), which affects around 3 million people in the U.S., is often treated with a low fiber or fiber-free diet during symptom flare-ups.
- A new study suggests that fiber actually plays a significant role in reducing IBD due to its influence on healthy gut bacteria.
- The study authors intend to pursue further research looking at the interaction between diet, bacteria, and genetics as a path to reducing the development of IBD.
Irritable bowel disorder (IBD), which can manifest as either ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, develops out of inflammation in the gut or digestive tract, leading to a range of sometimes painful issues with digestion. Scientists have not been able to identify the root cause of this disorder yet, but a recent study suggests a connection between genetics, diet, and gut microbiota that could lead to the development of IBD.
The study, published in
Fiber promotes the development of healthy mucus thickness and inhibits inflammation. For people who are born without interleukin-10, an IBD-associated cytokine, IBD typically develops in early infancy or childhood.
The present study shows that in mice lacking interleukin-10, fiber deprivation contributes to the deterioration of the colonic mucus lining, leading to lethal colitis. This suggests that fiber-rich diets may be valuable for individuals with IBD.
An estimated 6 million people worldwide have IBD, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that there are about
A study published last year in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American…
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