New Analysis Suggests Diet Can Change the Course of Gastrointestinal Disease

People often say "you are what you eat," but can a person's diet actually alter the progression of gastrointestinal disease?

"Your diet can help prevent or even manage digestive diseases," says Dr. Eamonn Quigley, chief of Gastroenterology at the Houston Methodist Underwood Center for Digestive Disorders.

In a review study published in the peer-reviewed journal JGH Open, Dr. Quigley examines whether dietary modifications can alter the natural course of conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) — and whether they offer potential alternatives to conventional medical therapies.

The paper highlights emerging evidence suggesting that diet plays a significant role in either exacerbating or alleviating symptoms of gastrointestinal diseases. It also emphasizes the gut microbiome's role in digestion and immunity, with dietary changes potentially influencing its composition.

Specific dietary interventions — such as diets low in FODMAPs (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols) for IBS and high-fiber diets for constipation-related conditions — have shown promise in symptom management.

Additionally, diets like the Mediterranean diet can help reduce inflammation and promote microbial diversity, key factors in GI health.

"Although in most cases dietary modifications alone may not be able to replace medical treatments, they can serve as a valuable complement to therapies," Dr. Quigley emphasizes. He adds that "it's important to note that individual responses to dietary changes can vary widely, so personalized nutritional plans guided by health care professionals are always recommended."

The findings support the growing movement toward integrating dietary strategies into gastrointestinal disease management, while underscoring the need for further clinical research.

"I think it's a good thing that there's a growing awareness amongst physicians that nutrition can enhance treatment strategies, but more high-quality, well-designed, nutrition-based studies are needed before any kind of standardized guidelines can be established," Dr. Quigley says.

Click here to read an in-depth Houston Methodist Methodology article to learn more about this topic.