BBC News | Bowel disease patients in lifestyle study
People with debilitating bowel conditions are being invited to take part in a study to better understand what causes the diseases to worsen.
University of Edinburgh researchers want to shed light on everyday factors that may influence flare-ups of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
They also want to investigate how changes in diet and lifestyle might help sufferers.
The study will collect data from 1,500 patients in Scotland and England.
It is being led by the university and NHS Lothian.
Participants will be asked to complete online questionnaires about their eating, exercise and sleeping habits and monitor feelings of stress and anxiety.
They will also be asked to provide mouth swabs and stool samples so researchers can analyse their DNA and examine bacteria living in their gut.
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