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Assessment of nutritional status and eating behaviours in patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease: a pilot study

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2025)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background and aims

Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) are inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) with varying clinical presentations. Current literature lacks specific dietary recommendations, though diets may serve as potential tools.

Methods

This study, conducted at IRCCS Ca’ Granda Foundation Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico of Milan from April 2020 to July 2022, aimed to evaluate the diets of UC and CD patients, focusing on preferred and avoided foods.

Results

Results showed 67.4% and 80.9% of participants in remission by Mayo and HBI scores, respectively, with normal nutritional status and higher weight in CD versus UC patients and controls. Lactose-free diets were most common (21.3% UC, 17.4% CD, 11.6% controls), followed by gluten-free diets (23.4% UC, 13.4% CD, 9.3% controls). Low-FODMAPS diet adoption was minimal. Fibre avoidance was notable in CD (52%) and UC (45%) versus controls (5%). Pasta and bread consumption were high across groups. No dietary associations with disease activity or intergroup differences were found.

Conclusions

The study population exhibited mild to moderate disease activity, normal nutritional status and prevalent dietary restrictions affecting nutrient intake and quality of life. Lactose-free diets were frequently employed, while gluten-free and low-FODMAPS diets were less common. Encouraging supervised fibre intake is recommended to prevent microbiota alterations negatively impacting intestinal health and homeostasis in IBD patients.

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Fig. 1: Foods identified as responsible for worsening symptoms by patients with UC and CD.
Fig. 2: Frequency of restrictive diet use among individuals with UC, CD and healthy controls.
Fig. 3: Preferred gluten-containing foods among patients with UC, CD and controls.
Fig. 4: Most avoided food groups or food components mentioned by patients with UC and CD, and controls.

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Data availability

All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article [and its supplementary information files].

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Acknowledgements

We wish to thank ‘io e il glutine ONLUS’ for the non-financial support.

Funding

This study was partially funded by Italian Ministry of Health, Current research IRCCS.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Andrea Costantino

    Present address: Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Prevention and Diagnosis of Celiac Disease; Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy

    Alice Scricciolo, Vincenza Lombardo, Luca Elli, Rachele Gori, Giulia Gilberti & Leda Roncoroni

  2. Department of Nutrition, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile

    Karla Amada Bascuñán

  3. Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile

    Magdalena Araya

  4. Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy

    Luca Elli, Andrea Costantino, Flavio Caprioli, Gian Eugenio Tontini & Maurizio Vecchi

  5. Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy

    Flavio Caprioli, Gian Eugenio Tontini, Maurizio Vecchi & Federica Mascaretti

  6. Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    Luisa Doneda & Leda Roncoroni

  7. Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy

    Valentina Meschia

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Contributions

Conceptualization AS, VL, KAB, and LR; Writing-Original Draft Preparation AS, VL, KAB, RG, GG, and LR; Writing Review & Editing, LE, AC, FC, GET, and LR; Methodology LE, LR; Supervision MA, LE, and MV; Visualization FM, LD, and VM; Funding Acquisition, MV. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alice Scricciolo.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethical considerations

The Local Ethics Committee (n. 19_2019bis) approved the study protocol according to the Helsinki Declaration.

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Scricciolo, A., Lombardo, V., Bascuñán, K.A. et al. Assessment of nutritional status and eating behaviours in patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease: a pilot study. Eur J Clin Nutr (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-025-01645-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-025-01645-7

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