Healthy plant-based diets lower IBD risk; unhealthy raise it

A large study has found that healthy plant-based diets can lower the risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In contrast, unhealthy plant-based diets may increase that risk. The study looked at data from two groups of adults without IBD. One group was from the UK Biobank, which included 187,888 participants, and the other was from the EPIC-IBD study with 341,539 participants. Researchers assessed participants' diets using dietary recalls and questionnaires, scoring them based on the healthiness of their plant-based foods. Results showed that sticking to a healthy plant-based diet was linked to a lower chance of developing IBD. Specifically, higher adherence to healthy dietary practices resulted in a 25% lower incidence of IBD, while unhealthy diets led to a 48% higher incidence. A similar pattern was observed in the second group as well. The study also noted that consuming sweets and potatoes raised the risk of IBD, while eating fruits and whole grains appeared to reduce it. Among those already diagnosed with IBD, a healthy diet was linked to a reduced likelihood of needing surgery related to the disease. The research indicates that plant-based foods are beneficial for people with IBD but highlights the need for proper dietary advice to ensure the quality of their diets. The study had some limitations, including its observational nature and the primarily European demographic, which may affect the results' applicability to other groups.