Optimizing Nutrition in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Evidence-Based Dietary Strategies

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is a chronic condition characterized by immune dysregulation, gut microbiota alterations, and persistent intestinal inflammation. While pharmacological treatments remain the cornerstone of management, growing evidence suggests that diet plays a crucial role in disease modulation. Specific dietary components have been implicated in either exacerbating or alleviating symptoms, potentially influencing disease progression. Understanding the complex interactions between food, gut microbiota, and immune responses is essential for optimizing dietary recommendations in IBD. Recent clinical and mechanistic studies have explored the impact of various dietary patterns, macronutrients, and bioactive compounds on inflammation and gut homeostasis. However, conflicting findings and individual variability highlight the challenges in establishing universal dietary guidelines. Emerging evidence also supports the role of personalized nutrition and elimination diets in improving patient outcomes. Despite progress, gaps remain in translating dietary interventions into clinical practice, necessitating further high-quality research. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the interplay between diet and IBD pathophysiology, focusing on the latest clinical data and mechanistic insights. By bridging research findings with clinical applications, this work aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the potential role of nutrition in managing IBD.