Impact of Diet on Inflammatory Bowel Disease Symptoms: An Adolescent Viewpoint

BACKGROUND: Dietary modification shows promise as therapy in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); however, it is unknown whether adolescents are interested in a dietary approach. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey of adolescents with IBD ages 14–21 on disease knowledge, dietary habits, and perceptions of diet therapy. RESULTS: A total of 132 subjects (48.5% female), mean age of 17.8 years and median disease length of 5 years (range 0, 16), completed the survey. Diet was perceived as a symptom trigger by 59.8% of subjects, and 45.4% had tried using diet as a treatment for symptom resolution, often without physician supervision and with limited success. Subjects experiencing active disease symptoms as determined by Manitoba IBD Index were more likely to be currently modifying their diet compared to subjects without active disease symptoms (odds ratio = 4.11, confidence interval = 1.58, 10.73, P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents with IBD perceive a relationship between diet and disease symptoms and are interested in dietary modification as a symptom management option.