Limiting meals to an eight-hour daily window in a randomized clinical trial reduced Crohn’s disease activity by 40% and halved abdominal discomfort over 12 weeks, highlighting Crohn’s disease intermittent fasting as a potential new tool for managing inflammation without cutting calories.
Study Shows Meal Timing Significantly Lowers Disease Activity
A randomized controlled trial led by the University of Calgary found that Crohn’s disease intermittent fasting significantly reduced symptoms and systemic inflammation in adults who were overweight or obese. The findings, published in Gastroenterology, highlight its potential as a promising dietary approach.
Researchers reported that participants who ate within an eight-hour window experienced a 40% drop in disease activity and a 50% reduction in abdominal discomfort compared with those maintaining a typical eating schedule.
The 12-week study included 35 adults, with 20 assigned to the fasting regimen and 15 continuing their regular diets. Investigators assessed disease activity, inflammation, and body composition at the beginning and end of the trial.
Participants on the fasting schedule lost an average of about 5.5 pounds, while the control group gained roughly 3.7 pounds. Blood tests also showed improvements in immune and inflammation markers, including reduced leptin and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels.
Researchers Say Benefits Extend Beyond Weight Loss
Crohn’s disease intermittent fasting confines daily eating to a defined eight‑hour period, followed by a 16‑hour fast. In the study, both groups consumed similar foods and comparable calories, suggesting that meal timing itself influenced the outcomes.
“This study shows that while weight loss is an important outcome in people with overweight and Crohn’s disease, Crohn’s disease intermittent fasting provides additional benefits beyond just the scale,” said Dr. Maitreyi Raman, senior author and associate professor of medicine at the University of Calgary.
Raman added that researchers observed “meaningful improvements in disease symptoms, reduced abdominal discomfort, favorable shifts in metabolism and inflammation, and promising changes in gut bacteria,” indicating intermittent fasting may help patients maintain remission.
The trial also found decreases in body mass index and visceral fat. It is a type of fat linked to metabolic dysfunction and poorer Crohn’s outcomes. Reinforcing the approach as a potential complementary strategy.
Experts Urge Caution While Calling Results Promising
The study was funded through the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s Litwin IBD Pioneers program. Andres Lorenzo Hurtado, senior vice president of translational research at the foundation, said time-restricted feeding “is showing real promise” as a way to help patients manage symptoms and overall health.
Lead investigator Natasha Haskey of the University of British Columbia said patients often seek practical tools alongside medication and that the findings suggest time-restricted eating “may be a sustainable option grounded in biology.”
Despite encouraging results, researchers emphasized the need for larger studies to confirm the long-term safety and effectiveness of Crohn’s disease intermittent fasting across broader populations living with inflammatory bowel disease.
Health experts also advise patients to consult their health care providers before changing eating schedules to determine whether intermittent fasting is appropriate.
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