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Epidemiologic Clues to Inflammatory Bowel Disease

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Abstract

In this article, the recent literature exploring the epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is reviewed. Epidemiologic studies present data on disease burden, but may also provide clues to disease etiology. The emergence of IBD in developing nations warrants a systematic search for environmental changes in those countries to explain the evolution of IBD. The hygiene hypothesis suggests that an alteration in the microbial environment experienced by the host facilitates the evolution of chronic immune-mediated diseases. One complex database study suggested that areas with high species richness of human intestinal helminthes are areas with genetic changes in interleukin gene loci. In other words, over the years, the microbial ecology has affected human genetics, which in turn would have an impact on immune responses. Other factors affect the gut microbiome, and several studies have explored the increase in incidence of IBD in relation to such factors as exogenous infections, use of antibiotics, and diet.

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References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Acknowledgments

Dr. Bernstein is supported in part by a Research Scientist Award of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada and the University of Manitoba Bingham Chair in Gastroenterology.

Disclosure

Conflicts of interest: In the past year, Dr. Bernstein has received consulting fees from Abbott Canada and Astra Zeneca Canada and an unrestricted educational grant from Axcan Pharma.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinical and Research Centre, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, 804F-715 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, R3E3P4

    Charles N. Bernstein

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Correspondence to Charles N. Bernstein.

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Bernstein, C.N. Epidemiologic Clues to Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Curr Gastroenterol Rep 12, 495–501 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11894-010-0144-x

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