Nutritional Therapy for IBD - Patient Pathway

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Nutritional Therapy Support for Patients with Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis

Considerations for Persistent Symptoms

When inflammation levels are low but some symptoms persist, these dietary techniques can help resolve those lingering symptoms.

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If your inflammation levels are low but you continue to experience some lingering symptoms, other dietary considerations may help resolve these issues.

It is not uncommon for patients with IBD to also have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Patients with symptoms consistent with IBS (abdominal pain, gas, bloating, diarrhea) may want to consider adopting the Low-FODMAP Diet for a period of about 4 weeks (longer use may have an adverse effect on the microbiome). The Low-FODMAP Diet has not been shown to affect inflammation, so it should be considered for symptom relief only.

Patients with IBD also commonly have intolerances to lactose, dairy in general, and/or gluten. Removing one or more of these elements from your diet may resolve persistent systems caused by common intolerances.

Every patient with IBD is unique and may have unique foods that trigger symptoms regardless of inflammation levels. Using a food and symptoms journal may help identify foods that trigger symptoms. An elimination diet (starting with a simple diet of known tolerated foods and adding in more foods one at a time) is another way to potentially identify trigger foods. Identifying and removing such triggers from your diet may resolve lingering symptoms.