Results are in – CD Treat diet

Back in 2017, we announced that we had invested £50,000 in CD-Treat research; a new dietary treatment aimed at combating Crohn’s Disease.

Current evidence suggests that a combination of genetics, external influencers and gut microbiota all contribute to the disease activity of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Studies have shown that disease improvement, following treatment with Exclusive Enteral Nutrition (EEN), coincided with changes in the gut microbiota. CD-Treat is a food-based diet which induces similar effects on gut microbial metabolites with EEN, which was confirmed in preliminary studies.

CD-Treat Lead researcher Vaios Svolos, a PhD student in Human Nutrition at Glasgow University, who also has Crohn’s disease himself said: “We are looking closely into the role of diet and gut bacteria in Crohn’s disease.” A trial of 25 healthy people using the diet was successful in changing the gut germs in the same way that the liquid diet did.

We’re pleased to announce, that results are now in from the latest research!

Twenty-five healthy adults randomly received EEN or CD-TREAT for 7 days, followed by a 14-day washout period, followed by the alternate diet. Fecal microbiome and metabolome were assessed before and after each diet. Five children also received CD-TREAT with clinical activity and fecal calprotectin evaluated after 8-week treatment.

Among healthy adults, CD-TREAT was easier to comply with and more acceptable than EEN. CD-TREAT induced similar effects to EEN (EEN vs CD-TREAT) on fecal microbiome composition, metabolome, mean total sulfide, pH, the short-chain fatty acids (μmol/g) acetate, propionate, and butyrate.

Among the children receiving CD-TREAT, 4 had a clinical response and 3 entered remission, with significant concurrent reductions in fecal calprotectin.

Those being treated with EEN may need it to be administered via a nasal gastric (NG) tube. This delivers the formula straight to the stomach and can be necessary due to fairly common issues such ‘formula fatigue’, which means individuals get so bored of drinking the same formula each day for 8 to 12 weeks, that they just can’t physically make themselves drink it.

For many, the CD-Treat diet could potentially give people that would usually only have a liquid diet as an option, the chance to take back some control of their lives and activities and provide them with the opportunity to participate in social gatherings that they may usually have avoided.

Your donations made it possible for us to invest in this research! 100% of the donations we receive fund patient-centric IBD research, to improve the lives of Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis sufferers, and to ultimately find a cure. We are run solely by volunteers to make this possible. If you would like to fundraise or donate so that we can invest in more IBD research, pop over to our website or Facebook!