Cure8 research brief
Malnutrition risk and nutrition insecurity can affect symptom management and overall health for people with IBD. Understanding barriers and supports helps target practical services (dietitians, social resources, digital tools) for patients who struggle to follow helpful diets or access safe foods.
Adult patients with IBD (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis), caregivers, dietitians and gastroenterology clinicians, and researchers studying nutrition, food insecurity, or supportive interventions in IBD.
The study found a substantial portion of participants screened at risk for malnutrition and that nutrition insecurity was more common among those at high malnutrition risk. Factors associated with higher malnutrition risk included being male, following a special diet, experiencing IBD flares, and nutrition insecurity.
Participants named helpful supports (healthcare professionals, social support, and digital nutrition resources/apps) and barriers (cost and access of food, limited nutrition knowledge/resources, and fear of symptom flares) to managing diet with IBD.
The authors recommend larger prospective studies using validated disease-activity measures and comprehensive nutritional assessment to better define these relationships and test combined dietetic and social-support interventions.
This report is a cross-sectional study with self-reported diagnoses and screening tools in a modest sample (n=57). The authors note the need for larger prospective studies with validated disease-activity measures and fuller nutritional assessment before drawing causal conclusions or changing clinical practice.
Review the original publication for the complete reporting, methods, and context.
This Cure8 brief is based on source text from the linked article. Cure8 is informational only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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