Diet as add on therapy for active Crohn*s disease

Diet is important to patients with IBD and many patients ask whether eating the
right foods can make a difference in their disease. Although studies about
food and IBD are conflicting, the chronic inflammation, impaired intestinal
barrier function and microbial disturbances seen in IBD may be reduced by
appropriate nutrition. Most studies focussed on one aspect of the diet, such as
dietary fiber, carbohydrates, or probiotics. We propose to test a nutritional
intervention that combines foods and nutrients with proven or plausible
anti-inflammatory properties (referred to as MediterraneanPLUS (MedP)
anti-inflammatory diet).

The study aim is to assess the feasability of an anti-inflammatory diet, as
add-on treatment (next to standard medical treatment) in patients with active
Crohn*s disease. We will study the effect of the diet on symptoms and quality
of life. Also, we will assess what components if the diet are and aren*t well
tolerated, and what are the patients* indicators of non-tolerance and
non-adherence.

Observational pilot study: anti-inflammatory diet as add-on treatment in active
Crohn*s disease.
Patient preference study design. Potential participants will be offered a
choice of joining the diet intervention or the control group. The control group
will entitle the same protocol, without referral to the dietician.

A potential issue of concern is that a change in diet will lead to loss in body
weight, which is potentially harmful during active Crohn*s disease. Therefore
the anti-inflammatory diet will be personalized. At the intake visit, metabolic
expenditure and food intake will be assed and a personalized (total amount of
calories advised) diet will be recommended. At every follow-up visit weight
will be recorded and if a patient loses weight, nutritional weight gain drinks
will be prescribed. Gaining weight is not considered a problem during active
Crohn*s disease