Dietary fructose, ingested in large quantities, can increase inflammation in the intestine and unbalance its microbiota.
- Populations in industrialized countries are particularly affected by IBD
- Excessive Fructose Consumption Could Make the Disease Worse
- To date, no treatment exists to cure IBD, we can only act on the symptoms
The notion of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) brings together two pathologies: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. They are characterized by inflammation of part of the digestive tract: generally in the intestine for Crohn’s disease, and in the area of the rectum and colon for ulcerative colitis. As pointed out by theInserm, industrialized countries are particularly affected. In France, 10 cases of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis per 100,000 inhabitants are detected each year. In the United States, three million people are diagnosed each year. For now, no single cause has been identified, but different factors could explode their appearance: genetics, pollution, smoking or even diet. If no specific food is associated with IBD, researchers are interested in the links between what we eat and the appearance of symptoms.
A disruption of the microbiota
Scientists at Stoony Brook University recently found that high fructose consumption can make the disease worse. They publish their results in Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology. “Rising incidence of inflammatory bowel disease coincides with higher fructose consumption levels in the United States and other countries.”explains David Montrose, one of the authors of the study.
An experiment was conducted on mice with IBD. They were fed large amounts of fructose: this aggravated the inflammation of their colon, and modified the intestinal microbiota. Excessive consumption of fructose has a pro-colitic effect on the body: the substance would modify the composition and functioning of the microbiota. “Our work proves a direct link between dietary fructose and inflammatory bowel disease, and supports the idea that high fructose intake may worsen the disease.”concludes the research team.
Lack of curative treatment
According to David Montrose and his colleagues, the research could help provide dietary recommendations for people with IBD. “It’s something that’s missing today“, he specifies. There is no treatment to cure the disease, the only possibility is to act on the symptoms thanks to anti-inflammatory treatments. Their use makes it possible to prevent the appearance of certain flare-ups. and to facilitate the healing of lesions in the intestine.In the most serious cases, surgical operations may be recommended to remove the damaged parts of the intestine.
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