{
  "abstract": "Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) frequently modify their diet and use complementary medicine, but inconsistent evidence and persistent myths complicate clinical guidance. Our aim was to critically evaluate the evidence for dietary and complementary strategies in IBD and to clarify common misconceptions, supporting evidence-based, patient-centred management. A narrative synthesis of randomised trials, systematic reviews and international guidelines was conducted. Interventions that were evaluated included dietary strategies encompassing the Mediterranean diet, low-FODMAP (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols) diet, exclusive enteral nutrition, Crohn’s disease exclusion diet and the specific carbohydrate diet. Other interventions included complementary modalities such as probiotics, curcumin, herbal medicine, mind-body interventions and physical activity. The Mediterranean diet shows moderate evidence for improving quality of life and inflammatory biomarkers. A low-FODMAP diet can relieve functional symptoms but does not reduce inflammation. Exclusive enteral nutrition remains first-line induction therapy in paediatric Crohn’s disease. The Crohn’s disease exclusion diet/partial enteral nutrition shows promise in adults. Among complementary therapies, specific probiotics and curcumin demonstrate benefits in certain cases of ulcerative colitis, but evidence for their use in Crohn’s disease remains limited. Personalised, multidisciplinary supervised dietary and complementary approaches may support symptom control and quality of life in IBD patients. However, they should complement rather than replace evidence-based pharmacologic therapy, and high-quality trial and clinical studies are needed to define optimal, evidence-based nutritional strategies.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "Salvatore Crucillà"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Beirut Governorate, Lebanon"
      ],
      "name": "Fadi H Mourad"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Mayo Clinic in Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Jana G Hashash"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Diet and complementary medicine in IBD: myths and realities",
  "uid": "d7ae32c2-42ad-508f-8a71-ad268f901fc7"
}