The role of dietary fibre in inflammatory bowel disease
Aleksandra Pituch-Zdanowska,corresponding author Aleksandra Banaszkiewicz, and Piotr Albrecht
Dietary fibre is an especially important component of diet in the context of IBD. A potentially protective effect of a high-fibre diet on intestinal disorders was pointed out by Burkitt in 1973 [7] when he worked in African countries and observed a low incidence of colon cancer and other non-infectious intestinal diseases among the inhabitants, whose diet was normally rich in dietary fibre. However, it is commonly observed that patients with IBD are permanently on a low-fibre diet, regardless of disease activity [8, 9]. The European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation emphasised that continuation of a regular diet is recommended during mildly to moderately active disease, both in UC and CD patients. The fibre-restricted diet should always be used only on a temporary basis, and it is indicated in a few cases, which are acute relapse (with diarrhoea, cramping), intestinal stenosis, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and after some types of surgery. Clinical practice guidelines summarising dietary advice regarding fibre intake in IBD (taking into account disease activity) are shown in Table I [10].
Aleksandra Pituch-Zdanowska,corresponding author Aleksandra Banaszkiewicz, and Piotr Albrecht
Dietary fibre is an especially important component of diet in the context of IBD. A potentially protective effect of a high-fibre diet on intestinal disorders was pointed out by Burkitt in 1973 [7] when he worked in African countries and observed a low incidence of colon cancer and other non-infectious intestinal diseases among the inhabitants, whose diet was normally rich in dietary fibre. However, it is commonly observed that patients with IBD are permanently on a low-fibre diet, regardless of disease activity [8, 9]. The European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation emphasised that continuation of a regular diet is recommended during mildly to moderately active disease, both in UC and CD patients. The fibre-restricted diet should always be used only on a temporary basis, and it is indicated in a few cases, which are acute relapse (with diarrhoea, cramping), intestinal stenosis, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and after some types of surgery. Clinical practice guidelines summarising dietary advice regarding fibre intake in IBD (taking into account disease activity) are shown in Table I [10].