IS DAIRY FOODS RESTRICTION MANDATORY FOR INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE PATIENTS: A MULTINATIONAL CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Nutrition Science
• Clinical Research

Background:

• The role of dairy consumption in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains a subject of debate, with uncertainty regarding whether IBD patients should avoid milk and dairy products.
• Existing controversies question the necessity of dairy restriction for IBD patients and its impact on their symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the necessity of dairy food restriction for patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
• To evaluate gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in IBD patients after dairy consumption and compare them to non-IBD individuals.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter, cross-sectional study involving 12 gastroenterology centers across four countries.
• Gastrointestinal symptoms were assessed in 872 IBD outpatients and 1016 non-IBD controls over six months following dairy food consumption.
• Data on family history of lactase deficiency and food sensitivity were collected for comparative analysis.

Main Results:

• Dairy food intolerance and lactase deficiency were more prevalent in IBD patients (65.5%) compared to non-IBD controls (46.1%).
• However, IBD patients without a family history of lactase deficiency or food sensitivity reported GI complaints at rates similar to non-IBD controls (around 50-60%).
• The most common symptoms reported post-dairy consumption were bloating and abdominal pain.

Conclusions:

• Dairy food intolerance in IBD patients without a history of lactase deficiency or food sensitivity is comparable to that in non-IBD individuals.
• There is likely no need to restrict dairy foods for these IBD patients, preserving access to essential nutrients like calcium and vitamin D.