When the nutritional habits of 63 patients with Crohn's disease were
compared with normals, sugar consumption in the Crohn's group prior to the
onset of the disease was significantly higher. Martini GA et al: Increased
consumption of refined carbohydrates in patients with Crohn's disease. Klin
Wochenschr 54(8):367-71, 1976.
After comparing the diets of 30 newly-diagnosed patients with Crohn's
disease with a control group, the researchers concluded that a diet high in
refined sugar and low in raw fruit and vegetables precedes and may favour the
development of Crohn's disease. Thornton JR et al: Diet and Crohn's disease:
characteristics of the pre-illness diet. Br Med J 2(6193):762-4, 1979.
In a randomized controlled trial, 20 patients with Crohn's disease were given
either a diet excluding refined sugar, or a sugar-rich diet. In the worst cases,
the sugar-free diet reduced the activity of the disease whereas the sugar-rich
diet caused exacerbation. Brandes JW et al: Sugar-free diet: a new
perspective in the treatment of Crohn's disease? Randomised, controlled study.
(German). Z Gastroentereol 19(1):1-12, 1981.
32 patients with Crohn's disease who had followed an unrefined diet in
addition to medication for 4 years, were found to have spent only a total of 111
days in hospital during this period, compared with 533 days in a control group
treated with medication alone. 1 patient in the diet group required surgery,
compared with 5 in the medication-only group. Heaton KW et al: Treatment of
Crohn's disease with an unrefined-carbohydrate, fibre-rich diet. Br Med J
2(6193):764-6, 1979.
78 Crohn's disease patients currently in remission were given either 9 fish
oil capsules (with a protective coating to prevent dispersal in the stomach) per
day or placebo. In the fish oil group 28% suffered relapses occurred during the
following year, compared with 69% from the control group. After one year 59% of
the fish oil group remained in remission, compared with 26% from the control
group. Belluzzi A et al: Effect of an enteric-coated fish-oil preparation on
relapses in Crohn's disease. N Engl J Med 334(24):1557-60, 1996.
The ability of dietary modification to maintain remission from Crohn's
disease was compared with corticosteroid treatment. 136 patients were withdrawn
from all treatments except for an elemental diet. 84 per cent achieved remission
from the disease and were then randomized to receive a diet free of foods which
caused a return of symptoms, or corticosteroid treatment. The corticosteroid
group remained in remission for an average of 3.8 months, and the diet group 7.5
months. The relapse rates at two years were 79 per cent for the corticosteroid
group and 62 per cent for the diet group. Patients were mostly sensitive to
cereals, dairy products and yeast. Riordan AM et al: Treatment of active Crohn's
disease by exclusion diet: East Anglian multicentre controlled trial. Lancet
342(8880):1131-4, 1993.
