Emerging evidence suggests the gut microbiome may play a role in triggering the onset of inflammatory bowel diseases such as Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
New studies have performed longitudinal analyses of the human gut microbiome in patients with IBD. All of these studies showed dynamic shifts between the microbiomes of healthy individuals and patients with IBD, as well as between patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, which led to promising diagnostic models.
According to this research, compared to healthy people, the gut microbiome in those with IBD seem to have: An increased potential to produce substances that promote inflammation, such as lipopolysaccharide 3,4. A reduced potential to produce substances that suppress inflammation, such as short chain fatty acids, known as butyrate3-5 and acetate4. A lower microbial diversity.
And fewer gut microorganisms that can break down fibre4. These findings seem to suggest that a lack of fibre in the diet may be involved in the changes to the gut microbiome of those with IBD. When gut microbes break down fibre, they primarily produce inflammation suppressing short chain fatty acids which are beneficial for many disease states including, but not limited to IBD.