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Dietary Fiber in Health and Disease pp 133–148Cite as

Fiber and Inflammatory Bowel Disease

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Part of the book series: Nutrition and Health ((NH))

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) consists of two major phenotypes, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, which are characterized by chronic relapsing gastrointestinal tract inflammation (e.g., irritation or swelling), primarily in the colon or ileum.

Globally, IBD affects up to 0.5–1.0% of the population, especially in Western countries, with the number of cases increasing in all countries. Some case-control data suggest that dietary patterns associated with low fiber Western diets and high intake of animal protein, fatty foods, and sugar may increase the risk of IBD onset. Diet-related colonic microbial dysbiosis is considered to be an important precondition for the development of IBD in susceptible individuals.

There is little evidence that fiber should be restricted in IBD patients’ diets, except during an active flare-up, as low fiber diets may increase colonic microbiota dysbiosis. Fiber supplements such as psyllium, prebiotics and symbiotics, semi-vegetarian diets, and other fiber-rich dietary patterns appear to have potential use in improved long-term clinical symptom management, in reducing colonic inflammation, and as adjunctive therapy with IBD medications.

Westernized diets, characterized by increased intake of the amount of foods, fried foods, red and processed meats, and refined carbohydrates with lower fiber foods and reduced intake of fruits and vegetables, appear to be associated with the development of both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, or trigger flare-ups.

Adequate fiber intake is beneficial to colon health by stimulating fiber fermentation to short-chain fatty acids such as butyrate (anti-inflammatory and a major energy source for colonocytes), lowering colonic pH as a defense against pathogenic bacteria, and promoting a healthier more diverse microbiota ecosystem required to help maintain colonic immunological homeostasis.

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  1. Nutrition Science Solution LLC, Wimberley, TX, USA

    Mark L. Dreher

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Dreher, M.L. (2018). Fiber and Inflammatory Bowel Disease. In: Dietary Fiber in Health and Disease. Nutrition and Health. Humana Press, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-50557-2_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-50557-2_7

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-50555-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-50557-2

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