New Dietary Approach Shows Promise in Treating Crohn’s Disease
A groundbreaking dietary therapy for Crohn’s disease has shown promising results in treating young patients at the Meyer Irccs University Hospital in Florence. This specific anti-inflammatory diet has led to a complete remission of the disease in 70% of the children who participated in the trial, even in cases where traditional medical treatments failed.
The ongoing trial at the children’s hospital has so far recommended the diet to more than 60 young patients, with remarkable success. The diet excludes foods that may have an inflammatory action on the intestine, particularly processed foods containing additives, emulsifiers, and preservatives.
Paolo Lionetti, head of pediatric gastroenterology at Meyer, expressed his satisfaction with the results, stating that the new diet is followed more willingly by children and adolescents compared to the previously administered liquid diet. He also highlighted the absence of side effects, making the new dietary approach even more promising.
The success of this diet is particularly significant as it has been effective in patients who did not respond to medical treatments, including the use of latest generation biological drugs. Additionally, the specialists at Meyer are working on developing a Mediterranean variant of the diet in collaboration with the hospital.
Inflammation has been identified as a major contributor to many widespread diseases in the Western world, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, tumors, neurodegenerative diseases, and more. The chronic low-grade inflammation caused by certain foods has been linked to various health conditions, making the anti-inflammatory diet a potential game-changer in disease management.
Foods that have been identified as inflammatory for the intestine include refined carbohydrates, sugary drinks, processed and fried foods, red meat, and trans fats. On the other hand, the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in anti-inflammatory foods such as dark green leafy vegetables, extra virgin olive oil, nuts, and fresh fruit, has been proven to combat inflammation.
This new dietary approach presents a ray of hope for patients suffering from Crohn’s disease and other inflammatory conditions, offering a natural and effective alternative to traditional medical treatments. As the trial continues, the potential for broader use and application of this anti-inflammatory diet in the medical field appears promising, providing a glimmer of hope for those struggling with chronic inflammatory diseases.