[Overview of diet-related study in Crohn's disease]

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting any part of the digestive tract which relapses and remits throughout the disease course. It occurs in individuals with genetic susceptibility and involves an abnormal response of the immune system to the external environment. Besides, improved hygiene, abuse of antibiotics, westernization of diet with high sugar and fat are thought to be associated with rapidly increasing incidence of CD. Certain components of foods may influence gut inflammation through antigen presentation and alteration of the microflora. This article aims mainly to review diet-related clinical studies to outline its roles in the pathogenesis and progress of disease, and then give some evidence-based suggestions.