Overview

• The study followed 143,434 UK adults from 2006 to 2010 and recorded 1,117 cases of inflammatory bowel disease over a 14.5-year period.
• Adherence to a healthy plant-based diet corresponded with an 8% reduction in ulcerative colitis risk and a 14% drop in Crohn’s disease risk.
• An unhealthy plant-based pattern high in vegetable oils and animal fats was linked to a 15% increase in Crohn’s disease risk.
• Blood biomarker analyses indicated that anti-inflammatory properties of fruits and vegetables likely underlie the protective effects.
• Lead author Zhe Shen, MD, emphasized that these findings support dietary guidelines prioritizing fruits and vegetables to help prevent inflammatory bowel diseases.