A new diet could change the lives of children suffering from Chron’s disease, as researchers at the Meyer Irccs hospital in Florence have identified a diet that leads to remission of the disease by excluding certain foods. The study was conducted on more than 60 young patients, with 70% experiencing complete remission of the disease, even in severe cases.
Paolo Lionetti, who leads pediatric gastroenterology at Meyer, called the study one of the largest experiences conducted at a European level. He praised the dietary therapy’s effectiveness, even in patients who do not respond to medical treatments, including the latest generation of biological drugs. This diet, although rigid, is more willingly followed by children and adolescents than the exclusively liquid diet previously recommended for the disease.
The diet excludes foods that can have an inflammatory action on the intestine, such as processed foods containing additives, emulsifiers, and preservatives. Given the success of the diet, gastroenterology specialists are working to develop a Mediterranean variant in collaboration with the Meyer Dietetics Service.
The project, which also involves the La Sapienza University of Rome, the University of Foggia, and the Sofia Cervello Hospital of Palermo, has been awarded a Pnrr loan of 1 million euros. The researchers hope that this dietary treatment will help children suffering from Chron’s disease without causing any side effects.
The Aou Meyer Irccs’ success with the diet study is an important development for the treatment of Chron’s disease, which is increasingly affecting children. This research could lead to a promising breakthrough in the treatment of this debilitating disease.