The Effect of the Crohn's Disease Exclusion Diet on Patients With Pouch Inflammation: An Interventional Pilot Study

Restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch–anal anastomosis is the surgical treatment of choice for patients with ulcerative colitis.¹ Unfortunately, pouch inflammation (ie, pouchitis) is reported in up to 72% of pouch patients.^1,2

There is no consensus regarding the effect of diet on the clinical course of pouchitis³; however, given the similarities between the pathogenesis of pouchitis and Crohn’s disease, beneficial dietary interventions for Crohn’s disease^4,5 may positively impact pouchitis.

In this pilot study, we aimed to examine whether the Crohn's Disease Exclusion Diet (CDED) is effective for the treatment of active pouchitis

"In conclusion, to date, there is no dietary regimen recommended for patients with pouchitis.3 This is the first study to report a positive effect of a dietary intervention in pouchitis, perhaps offering another therapeutic option to these patients. Future larger studies should investigate the effect of the CDED on pouchitis activity with a deeper investigation on pouch, patient, and baseline dietary intake characteristics that are associated with a better response to the diet."