Dietary beliefs, food restrictions, and nutritional consequences in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Background: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, are chronic relapsing inflammatory disorders with a rising global incidence and a substantial impact on patients’ quality of life. Diet is frequently perceived by patients as a key factor influencing disease activity and symptom control. Consequently, many patients adopt dietary modifications or restrictive eating behaviors, often without professional guidance.
Aim^: To evaluate dietary beliefs, food avoidance behaviors, and their nutritional and psychosocial consequences in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study included 210 patients with confirmed IBD followed in a specialized gastroenterology clinic. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire assessing demographic characteristics, patients’ perceptions of the role of diet in disease activity, dietary modifications, sources of nutritional information, and potential nutritional and psychosocial consequences.
Results: Among the 210 patients included, 140 had Crohn’s disease and 70 had ulcerative colitis. The mean age was 34.5 years, with a slight female predominance. Overall, 73% of patients believed that diet influenced disease activity, and 69% reported modifying their dietary habits following diagnosis. The most commonly avoided foods were dairy products (47%), high-fiber foods (39%), fatty foods (35%), and gluten-containing products (29%). Nutritional consequences included unintentional weight loss in 42% of patients and documented micronutrient deficiencies in 33%, mainly involving iron, vitamin D, and vitamin B12. Psychological impact was also observed, with 46% of patients reporting anxiety related to food consumption and 27% describing social limitations associated with meals.
Conclusion: Dietary restrictions are highly prevalent among patients with inflammatory bowel disease and are frequently implemented without professional guidance. Such practices may contribute to nutritional deficiencies and negatively affect psychosocial well-being. Integrating structured nutritional counseling into multidisciplinary IBD management may help prevent unnecessary dietary restrictions, improve nutritional status, and enhance patients’ quality of life.