The Effect of Adherence to Mediterranean Diet on Disease Activity in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract

Background/Aims: Mediterranean diet, owing to its inflammation-modulatory effects, is considered a beneficial dietary regimen for patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Despite promising results in the literature, studies on this subject are still limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate adherence to the Mediterranean diet in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and examine its impact on disease activity and quality of life. Materials and Methods: A total of 83 patients were included in the study. Mediterranean Diet Adherence Scale was used to evaluate adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Crohn’s Disease Activity Index was used to evaluate disease activity in Crohn’s disease. Disease activity was determined by using the Mayo Clinic score for ulcerative colitis. Quality of Life Scale Short Form-36 was used to evaluate the quality of life of patients. Results: When the median Mediterranean Diet Adherence Scale score was 7 (1-12), only 18 patients (21.7%) showed strong adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Disease activity scores of patients with ulcerative colitis having low adherence to the Mediterranean diet were found to be higher ( P < .05). In addition, some quality of life parameters were relatively higher in patients with ulcerative colitis who showed strong adherence to the Mediterranean diet ( P < .05). For Crohn’s disease, no significant difference was found in disease activity and quality of life with respect to adherence to the Mediterranean diet ( P > .05). Conclusion: Stronger adherence to the Mediterranean diet in patients with ulcerative colitis can help improve quality of life and modulate disease activity. However, further prospective studies are needed to investigate the potential use of the Mediterranean diet in inflammatory bowel disease management.

Effects of Mediterranean Diet, Curcumin, and Resveratrol on Mild-to-Moderate Active Ulcerative Colitis: A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial

“…In patients with UC, adherence to the MD positively influences disease activity and quality of life [15]. Patients with UC with strict adherence to the MD appear to have lower disease activity scores and higher quality of life parameters than those with low adherence [50].…”

“…The study reported that compared with the healthy population, the most affected SF-36 parameters were vitality, mental health, and emotional health-related parameters [66]. A recent study by Çelik et al discovered that clinical activity was negatively correlated with the SF-36 subparameters of physical role difficulty, emotional role difficulty, vitality, mental health, and general health perception in individuals with IBD [15]. This study is the first RCT to evaluate the effects of an 8-week MD intervention on the health-related quality of life of patients with UC.…”

Research advancements and perspectives of inflammatory bowel disease: A comprehensive review

“… 47 , 48 Mediterranean diets, rich in polyphenols and fiber, are considered a beneficial dietary regimen for IBD. 10 Low dietary fiber promotes mucin-degrading bacteria eroding healthy colon mucus, leading to lethal colitis in IL-10-deficient mice. 49 Western dietary patterns, characterized by high consumption of fats and sugars and a low fiber intake, contribute to the development of IBD, because of the decreased abundance of SCFA-producing bacteria and the increased abundance of pathogens such as Helicobacter trogontum .…”

“… 7 , 8 Additionally, environmental factors such as lifestyle and diet, play a significant role in the development of IBD, with certain dietary components, like mannose, showing potential for ameliorating colitis. 9 – 11 IBD pathogenesis is associated with the complex interactions between genetic predispositions, gut microbiome perturbations, environmental factors, and immune response dysregulation.…”