Exploring the Gut Microbiome's Role in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Insights and Interventions

Abstract

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory condition of the intestine that significantly impairs quality of life and imposes a heavy burden on healthcare systems globally. While the exact etiology of IBD is unclear, it is influenced by genetic, environmental, immunological, and microbial factors. Recent advances highlight the gut microbiome's pivotal role in IBD pathogenesis. The microbial dysbiosis characteristic of IBD, marked by a decline in beneficial bacteria and an increase in pathogenic microbes, suggests a profound connection between microbial imbalance and disease mechanisms. This review explores diagnostic approaches to IBD that integrate clinical assessment with advanced microbiological analyses, highlighting the potential of microbiome profiling as a non-invasive diagnostic tool. In addition, it evaluates conventional and emerging treatments and discusses microbiome-targeted intervention prospects, such as probiotics, symbiotics, and faecal microbiota transplantation. The necessity for future research to establish their efficacy and safety is emphasised.

Keywords: faecal microbiota transplantation; inflammatory bowel disease; microbiome; prebiotics; probiotics; symbiotics.

Figure 1

Role of the gut microbiome. Microorganisms of a healthy gut demonstrate essential metabolic, immunological, and protective functions for the intestine.

Figure 2

Dysbiosis of gut microbiota in inflammatory bowel disease. The microbiome of an IBD patient shows an altered composition with an imbalance between beneficial microbes and pathogens. The downward arrow indicates a decrease and the upward arrow indicates an increase.