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While previous studies have found an association between a Westernized diet and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), specific food items had not been identified.

In this study recently published in , Lo et al. found that participants with the highest consumption of ultra-processed foods had a significantly increased risk of Crohn's disease (CD). The food items with the highest association were ultra-processed breads, breakfast foods, packaged sweet snacks, and frozen or shelf-stable ready-to-eat meals. Surprisingly, no increased risk was seen for ulcerative colitis.

These findings suggest that dietary interventions in the general population and particularly for individuals with a family history of IBD may be useful in limiting CD development. Based on this research, physicians should discuss dietary recommendations with vulnerable populations as preventive care.

Melinda Engevik, PhD, is an assistant professor at Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.

You can read an interview with the senior study author here, and the abstract of the study here.