Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis sometimes cause difficulty in digesting the fibers contained in certain foods.
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is usually diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 30.
- Nearly 15% of IBD cases involve children, according to Inserm.
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) include Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). These pathologies lead to an inflammation of the wall of a part of the digestive tract which is caused by a dysregulation of the immune system. There is no treatment that can cure IBD, but drugs can control them and ensure a good quality of life for patients outside of flare-ups.
20-40% of patients with IBD do not digest fiber
Some people affected by IBD sometimes suffer from intestinal sensitivity when they consume fiber. In a study published in the journal Gastroenterology, researchers have examined how fibers affect patients. “We want to start by finding out why 20 to 40% of patients have sensitivity (…) while for the other part of patients, these dietary fibers can in fact be beneficial to health, protect against disease and have very positive”explained Heather Armstrong, co-author and assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of Manitoba (Canada).
Scientists have indicated fiber is not digested by the small intestine, unlike other foods. It is the intestinal microbiota present in the large intestine or in the colon that produces enzymes in order to ferment them. The study’s leaders, however, found that fibers in artichoke, chicory roots, garlic, asparagus and bananas are difficult to ferment, especially when certain microbes are absent or malfunctioning. A phenomenon that is very common in patients affected by IBD.
IBD: non-fermented fibers increase the intensity of symptoms
In healthy people, fiber has many beneficial effects. In particular, they have an anti-inflammatory effect and facilitate digestion, but unfermented fibers can lead to an increase in inflammation and aggravate the symptoms of IBD. During an attack, abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloody stools or loss of appetite may occur. These manifestations can be accentuated by the consumption of non-fermented fibres.
Researchers are now working on the creation of a stool test that would examine the microbes present in the intestine of patients. The objective is to adapt dietary recommendations and treatment for each patient. “We hope to be able to tell you how to adjust your diet to prevent flare-ups or further aggravation (…) This is a dynamic situation, so you may have to avoid a food for a few months before you can. eat it again”, said Eytan Wine, a professor in the faculty of medicine and dentistry at the University of Alberta.
