Crohn’s Disease Diet: Explaining The Evidence in Plain English

There’s a lot of misinformation online about treating Crohn’s disease.

Unlike the low FODMAP diet for IBS, there is no proven diet or cure for Crohn’s.

However, studies show certain diet changes may help with treatment and preventing recurrence.

This article takes a science-based look at what might actually work.

What is Crohn’s Disease?

What is crohn's disease?

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a common inflammatory disorder of the gut.

Alongside ulcerative colitis and microscopic colitis, it’s classified as an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Together, IBD affects over 1.4 million people in the US and 2.2 million in Europe (1).

Crohn’s disease is characterized by inflamed sections of the intestine. However, it can affect all parts of the gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the anus.

This short video explains it in more detail:

Summary: Crohn’s disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), characterized by inflamed and damaged sections of the intestine.

Crohn’s Disease Symptoms and Causes

Crohn’s disease is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic, environmental and immunological factors.

These stressors appear to alter the immune response to bacteria in the intestines. This leads to inflammation and ulceration.

As a result, the most common symptoms of Crohn’s disease are:

Crohns disease symptoms

Some researchers believe the typical “Western” diet is the reason rates of Crohn’s disease and other gastrointestinal problems are on the rise (4).

That is, an eating pattern high in unhealthy fats, sucrose, processed foods and carbs, and low in fruits and vegetables.

Summary: It appears to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, though the role of diet is uncertain. Symptoms of Crohn’s disease are typically digestive issues coupled with fatigue and weight loss.

Flare-Ups Are Treated In the Hospital

Patients are usually hospitalized during the acute phase or “flare-up” of Crohn’s disease.

Successful treatment sometimes requires surgery, but always includes medications (such as prednisolone) and several days of bowel rest. This allows the digestive tract time to heal.

Rather than eating food, a patient receives 100% of their calories and nutrients through a feeding tube into the small intestine. This is known as enteral nutrition and is especially useful when treating children (5, 6).

Patients then move into remission (no symptoms), which is when our diet and lifestyle changes come into play. This diagram illustrates the process (7):

enteral nutrition for crohns disease

Summary: Acute symptoms are typically treated with medications and enteral nutrition. Diet choices come into consideration during remission.

Can Elimination Diets Cure Crohn’s Disease?

Can elimination diets cure crohns disease

Although diet may not be a direct cause of Crohn’s disease, it plays a critical role in managing symptoms and preventing recurrence.

This means diet changes are the closest you can get to a “cure.”

Diets that restrict or eliminate foods have become popular for those with Crohn’s, with some limited evidence to support the concept (8).

A Low-Residue & Low-Fiber Diet

A low-residue diet limits specific high-fiber foods that add residue to the stool, like whole-grain breads and cereals, nuts and seeds, and fruits and vegetables.

According to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA), two-thirds of people with Crohn’s – who experience abdominal pain and diarrhea caused from small intestinal constriction – may benefit from this type of diet.

However, there is limited evidence to back this up. In fact, a low-residue diet may only result in increased dysbiosis (microbial imbalance) in the gut.

Instead, a growing amount of research has found that a high-fiber diet will not worsen IBD symptoms, but improve them (9).

A Low FODMAP Diet

A low FODMAP diet is a temporary eating pattern used to help treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) sufferers.

FODMAPs are short-chain carbohydrates that, when poorly digested, ferment in the lower part of your large intestine (gut), causing digestive problems.

It’s thought that cutting out FODMAPs may also inadvertently remove problem foods for Crohn’s disease patients and improve overall symptoms (10).

In a study of 72 IBD patients given low FODMAP diet education, those who managed to follow it for 3 months (70% of patients) reported improvements in symptoms of pain, bloating and diarrhea (11).

Unfortunately, there were no biochemical markers measured and no way to accurately monitor eating habits during that time.

But studies that have reviewed dietary risk factors for IBD show that increased fruit and vegetable intake is actually linked to a much lower risk. This is in contrast to the first study as a low FODMAP diet tends to be low in fruit and vegetables (12).

A low FODMAP diet can also alter a person’s nutritional status, leading to deficiencies.

This suggests a low FODMAP diet can be beneficial initially, but not in the long-run. Long-term restriction is not ideal for gut bacterial health and may cause further problems down the track.

Considering that most patients with IBD seem to recognize what foods can exacerbate their symptoms, I can see the potential for a low FODMAP diet in early stages of treatment (13).

Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD), GAPS Diet and Paleo Diet

The Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) claims to help treat Crohn’s disease and other IBDs.

It’s quite similar to the GAPS diet, particularly in foods that are not allowed.

Foods allowed on SCD:

  • Fish, eggs, chicken, meat, lactose-free dairy, ripe fruit, non-starchy vegetables, nuts and seeds, some legumes and honey.

Foods not allowed on SCD:

  • All grains, regular dairy, starchy vegetables (such as corn and potato), some legumes, added sugar.

Both SCD and GAPS diets strictly limit grain fiber; however, no published studies show this to be beneficial for IBD. In fact, research indicates grain-based fiber could be beneficial for treating IBD, at least for ulcerative colitis.

In a pilot study of 22 patients in remission, 60 grams of oat bran daily was shown to increase fecal levels of a beneficial fatty acid by 36%, without making symptoms worse (14).

Another trial of 18 ulcerative colitis patients found that 20–30 grams per day of germinated barley foodstuff appeared to improve bowel related symptoms (15).

Paleo Diet

Much like SCD and GAPS, the Paleo diet is characterized by eliminating grains, rice and root vegetables, while eating more leafy vegetables and meat.

But there is no evidence of its effectiveness for IBD yet.

In contrast, a two-year clinical trial showed that a semi-vegetarian diet reduced the risk of relapse for Crohn’s disease patients compared to a patients on an omnivorous diet.

The semi-vegetarian diet was rich in brown rice, soybeans, potato and yam—all not permitted on strict Paleo (16).

Overall, the long-term effects of cereal grain and non-cereal grain fiber on IBD is uncertain, but it does not appear that the SCD, GAPS or Paleo diet restriction would be helpful.

In fact, a comprehensive review of recent data around diet and IBD concluded that soluble fiber from foods like oats, psyllium and pulses are most beneficial for those in remission. This diagram offers more of the researchers’ recommendations (17):

dietary recommendations for maintenance of remission in IBD

Summary: The science is lacking to support the use of an elimination or restrictive diet for Crohn’s disease. A low FODMAP diet could have its place as a temporary initial treatment. But the use of SCD, GAPS and Paleo diets are not evidence-based.

Probiotics and Other Supplements For Crohn’s Disease

Probiotics and Other Supplements For Crohn’s Disease

A range of new products are now available to help treat Crohn’s disease.

But very few are backed by scientific evidence.

Probiotics

Probiotics are bacteria we eat specifically for health benefits.

There is now good reason to believe an imbalance in gut bacteria contributes to Crohn’s disease. Likewise, there is evidence suggesting probiotic use may be helpful. However, the majority of good studies so far are on animals or in test tubes (18, 19).

If probiotics are indeed useful, the actual beneficial bacterial strains appear to be E. coli Nissle, S. boulardii and Llactobacillus GG. As for brands, a mixture known as VSL#3 is the most well-regarded (20, 21).

There was one promising human study of 10 subjects with Crohn’s disease (not in hospital) that previously failed to achieve remission on medications.

They were given a combination treatment of probiotics (mainly comprised of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli at 75 billion colony forming units [CFU]) and prebiotics (psyllium at least 9.9 grams). This was given each day for 13 months on average (22).

Seven subjects had improved clinical symptoms of diarrhea and abdominal pain. Two of those were able to come off their prednisolone therapy, while 4 could decrease their dosage.

Given that side effects are very rare and there is beneficial potential, we cannot yet say that probiotics are useless. But we are just guessing about which types and how much.

Prebiotics

Prebiotics are types of fiber that “feed” your gut bacteria.

Considering that intestinal damage of IBD is likely influenced by the immune response against certain gut bacteria, prebiotics are probably influential.

Research suggests that two forms of prebiotic – inulin and oligofructose – encourage the growth of beneficial lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. This is associated with reduced mucosal inflammation in IBD, at least in animal studies (23).

Fermentation of prebiotics in the gut also produces short-chain fatty acids such as butyrate. Butyrate has anti-inflammatory effects in the gut, with supplements resulting in clinical improvement in 9 of 12 Crohn’s disease patients (24).

Early evidence also indicates those prebiotics could help manage intestinal inflammatory lesions in human Crohn’s disease. But much more research is needed.

Curcumin and Aloe Vera

Numerous natural supplements and alternative remedies have been linked to Crohn’s disease treatment (25).

Arguably the most promising is curcumin, the active ingredient in the spice turmeric. It appears to have powerful anti-inflammatory properties that can influence health.

Two human studies have shown benefits to IBD when supplementing with around 1 gram of curcumin per day. However, the vast majority of participants in these studies had ulcerative colitis rather than Crohn’s disease (26, 27).

Wheatgrass juice and aloe vera supplements are also promising, although it’s only been tested in ulcerative colitis patients (28).

Summary: A handful of alternative treatments and supplements could be beneficial for Crohn’s disease, though there are no clear recommendations for dosage or duration. They could be useful alongside primary medical treatment.

Specific Foods and Nutrients For Crohn’s Disease

Specific Foods and Nutrients For Crohn's Disease

The role of specific nutrients in Crohn’s disease prevention or treatment is a busy area of research.

Fiber Intake

Research consistently shows a strong association between high dietary fiber intake and decreased risk of Crohn’s disease.

It seems that an intake of more than 22 grams of fiber per day is ideal, particularly from fruits, vegetables and legumes (11, 29).

The potential mechanism behind this benefit is not well-understood. However, many researchers speculate that butyrate is largely responsible. This is the by-product produced when certain types of fiber are fermented in the gut (prebiotics).

Currently, the average US adult consumes only 16 grams of fibre per day, with only 22% from vegetables and 11% from fruit (30, 31).

Vitamin D

Vitamin D deficiency has emerged as a risk factor for Crohn’s disease.

Human trials have demonstrated that 2,000 IU per day of vitamin D may lead to reduced inflammatory markers, reduced intestinal permeability, and overall improvement in Crohn’s disease management (32).

Animal models suggest that vitamin D may improve intestinal barrier function and assist healing of the intestinal wall after damage (33).

Other Vitamins and Minerals

Patients with IBD can also have an increased risk of other nutritional deficiencies, including iron, calcium, vitamin B12, folic acid, zinc, magnesium and vitamin A.

For example, about 70% of males with IBD may present with a zinc deficiency. Meanwhile, anemia, often caused from a lack of iron, has been shown to affect up to 88% of IBD patients (34).

A visit with your doctor can help determine any possible deficiencies and what you can do to correct them.

Meat and Added Fats

Research on the role of animal foods and added fats is a mixed bag and cannot be used to make conclusions at this stage.

Observational studies tend to find a link between high consumption of animal foods and increased risk of Crohn’s disease.

High fish consumption has also been linked to worse outcomes, yet other studies show high omega-3 intakes to be beneficial (35, 36, 37).

All the main types of fat (saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated) have also been linked to an increased risk, but not consistently, and mainly for ulcerative colitis (35, 38).

Given the quality of the observational evidence so far, it remains unclear what role animal foods and fatty acids play.

Summary: Sufficient vitamin D appears important, as does a diet rich in fibre from fruits and vegetables. The evidence for the role of fat and animal foods on Crohn’s is inconsistent and unreliable.

Summarizing the Dietary Treatment of Crohn’s Disease

Summarizing the Dietary Treatment of Crohn’s Disease

In summary, consider these points when treating Crohn’s disease with diet changes:

  • A low FODMAP diet is a great start: This can help you discover any food intolerances, which have overlapping symptoms of Crohn’s. Then you will know exactly what plant foods to avoid. Note, it’s a temporary eating pattern and should be done with a dietitian.
  • Eat a variety of vegetables and fruit that you tolerate: This is to ensure you get at least 22 grams of prebiotic fibre each day. This appears to be good for gut health and also reduces your risk of developing a nutrient deficiency over time. The best choices include legumes, potatoes, bananas, asparagus, onion, leeks, berries and oats.
  • Eat a balanced diet rather than following extremes: It’s not necessary to cut out animal foods, which are high in iron (especially haem-iron). This is important for Crohn’s and likely not harmful. Sources of carbs are important for the fiber, and the influence of fat is unknown but probably safe.
  • Supplement vitamin D if you are deficient: Get your levels tested by the doctor.
  • Consider probiotics if you are struggling: If diet changes have not helped, probiotic supplementation could be beneficial, such as VSL #3. It is costly though, and fermented foods are a more affordable option.
  • Curcumin is an option: If all else fails then speak with your doctor about trialling 1 gram of curcumin per day.

I wish I could give more practical advice, such as a meal plan, but Crohn’s disease is a very individualized condition.

What may work for someone else may not work for you.

Additionally, there is a lot about gastrointestinal diseases that medical science does not yet understand or know.

My best recommendation is to seek individualized treatment with an IBD-trained dietitian.

If You Prefer Video

There is a lot of misinformation online about treating Crohn’s disease. This article takes a science-based look at what diet changes might actually work. Learn more here: https://www.dietvsdisease.org/crohns-disease-diet-treatment/

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About Joe Leech, Dietitian (MSc Nutrition & Dietetics)

Joe Leech is a university-qualified dietitian from Australia.

He graduated with a Bachelor's degree in exercise science, followed by a Master's degree in Nutrition and Dietetics in 2011.

Learn more about him on the About page