Cure8 research brief
The trial shows a targeted diet can lower fecal calprotectin, a biomarker of intestinal inflammation, in people at higher risk for Crohn's disease. If sustained, dietary modulation of inflammation could be a non-drug prevention strategy for at-risk relatives.
First-degree relatives of people with Crohn's disease who have elevated fecal calprotectin, clinicians caring for people at increased IBD risk, and researchers studying dietary prevention or microbiome interventions.
The PIONIR trial randomized 29 high-risk first-degree relatives with elevated fecal calprotectin to an 8-week Tasty & Healthy (T&H) diet versus their habitual diet, then crossed over for another 8 weeks. At 8 weeks, median fecal calprotectin was lower on the T&H diet and a greater proportion had ≥50% FC reductions.
Across periods, T&H produced a larger overall reduction in FC compared with habitual diet. The study also reported differences in six microbial species between diets and high adherence and acceptability ratings for T&H.
The trial enrolled people who were otherwise healthy but had persistent FC elevation and only nonspecific or minimal mucosal findings on capsule endoscopy or ileocolonoscopy; it did not enroll people with established diagnostic Crohn's disease.
These results support the idea that dietary change can reduce a biomarker of intestinal inflammation and justify longer-term prevention trials.
Results are drawn from the published abstract of a randomized crossover trial in a selected high-risk group without established Crohn's disease; longer-term effects, clinical outcomes, and replication in larger trials remain to be shown.
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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