Plant-heavy Mediterranean eating may ease inflammatory bowel disease symptoms
Nada AH, Ghonaim MM, Awad A, Kanaan D, Abbas AN
Medicinal Plants
The vegetables, legumes, and olive oil you're already growing or buying could double as a low-cost tool for managing gut inflammation, based on patterns seen across more than 1,600 patients.
Researchers pulled together 12 studies looking at whether eating like people do in Mediterranean countries, lots of vegetables, fruit, olive oil, and fiber, helps people with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis feel better. Studies that just observed people's habits found that those who ate this way tended to have less inflammation and better quality of life. But the more rigorous controlled trials, where researchers actually assigned people to diets, didn't show a clear benefit, so scientists say bigger, better studies are still needed before doctors can confidently prescribe this diet.
Key Findings
12 studies covering 1,615 patients were reviewed, including 3 RCTs, 1 single-arm trial, and 8 observational studies
Observational studies linked greater Mediterranean diet adherence to lower CRP inflammation markers, improved quality of life, and reduced disease activity
Randomized controlled trials showed mixed, largely non-significant effects on inflammatory biomarkers, highlighting a gap between observational and experimental evidence
chevron_right Technical Summary
A review of 12 studies found that eating more fruits, vegetables, and fiber in a Mediterranean-style pattern is linked to lower inflammation and better quality of life in people with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, though rigorous clinical trials haven't yet proven it changes disease outcomes.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
The Potential Role of the Mediterranean Diet on Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review.
The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), a plant-based diet that primarily relies on vegetables, fruits, and fiber, has been suggested to modulate the gut microbiota and improve quality of life (QoL), par...
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Was this useful?
Want to tell us more? (optional)
Thanks for the note!
Something went wrong — please try again.
Too many submissions. Try again in an hour.
Fifteen herbs from turmeric to lion's mane protect the aging brain
The saffron crocuses you plant in fall, the turmeric on a sunny windowsill, and the lemon balm spreading in your herb bed all contain compounds that clinical...
A plant-based diet is one composed primarily or entirely of foods derived from plants, including vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, with minimal or no animal products. For plant scientists, this dietary framework drives research into the nutritional profiles,
arrow_forward Explore topic