Diet and Microbiome-Directed Therapy 2.0 for IBD

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comprises chronic and relapsing disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, characterized by dysregulated immune responses to the gut microbiome. The gut microbiome and diet are key environmental factors that influence the onset and progression of IBD and can be leveraged for treatment. In this review, we summarize the current evidence on the role of the gut microbiome and diet in IBD pathogenesis, and the potential of microbiome-directed therapies and dietary interventions to improve IBD outcomes. We discuss available data and the advantages and drawbacks of the different approaches to manipulate the gut microbiome, such as fecal microbiota transplantation, next-generation and conventional probiotics, and postbiotics. We also review the use of diet as a therapeutic tool in IBD, including the effects in induction and maintenance, special diets, and exclusive enteral nutrition. Finally, we highlight the challenges and opportunities for the translation of diet and microbiome interventions into clinical practice, such as the need for personalization, manufacturing and regulatory hurdles, and the specificity to take into account for clinical trial design.

Keywords: Crohn's; Diet; Microbiome; Nutrition; Probiotic.