Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an ongoing or chronic health problem that causes inflammation and swelling in the digestive tract. The irritation causes bleeding sores called ulcers to form along the digestive tract. This in turn can cause crampy, abdominal pain and severe bloody diarrhea.

What is Ulcerative Colitis?

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic condition that affects the large intestines, particularly the colon. It is classified as one of the two inflammatory bowel diseases along with Crohn’s disease.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in Pregnancy

FODMAP Research

Ulcerative Colitis Causes

Genetics of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Colorectal Cancer

Mesentery: a new organ?

Dysbiosis and the Microbiome

Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs)

Latest Inflammatory Bowel Disease News and Research

Early diagnosis and modern therapies improve Crohn’s disease prognosis

Crohn's disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), impacts millions worldwide. The disease is chronic and highly unpredictable, manifesting symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea — sometimes with blood — and severe fatigue.

13 Sep 2025

What diet pattern worsens inflammatory bowel disease?

Researchers compare the different effects of pro-inflammatory dietary patterns on inflammatory bowel disease severity.

9 Sep 2025

Why smartphone use on the toilet may increase hemorrhoid risk

Adults using smartphones on the toilet spent significantly more time seated and had 46% higher odds of hemorrhoids on colonoscopy. The cross-sectional study suggests prolonged sitting, not straining, may be the key driver of hemorrhoid risk.

8 Sep 2025

How fiber intake shapes your gut microbes’ digestion strategy

A study reveals how gut bacteria shift from fiber to mucus digestion, linking this change to inflammation in healthy adults and introducing the Muc2Plant ratio.

5 Sep 2025

Daily probiotic reduces pouchitis risk after colon removal surgery but may not be cost-effective

A new UCLA Health study found that taking an 8-strain probiotic daily may reduce the risk of pouchitis, a common inflammatory condition that occurs after colon removal surgery for ulcerative colitis, but the treatment may not be worth the cost depending on a patient's likelihood of flare-ups.

3 Sep 2025

New global consensus offers hope for women with inflammatory bowel disease during pregnancy

For women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), pregnancy can be an uncertain time due to limited clinical data about how IBD medications impact pregnancy outcomes and infants who have been exposed to IBD medications in utero.

28 Aug 2025

Inflammatory bowel disease in Nigeria reveals unique clinical patterns and challenges

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic condition with significant health implications worldwide. In Nigeria, data on its prevalence and characteristics are limited, highlighting the need for comprehensive studies to better understand its epidemiology and clinical features in the region.

28 Aug 2025

Transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation shows promise for gastrointestinal disorders

Imbalanced autonomic function, characterized by reduced vagal activity and sympathetic dominance, is increasingly recognized in various gastrointestinal (GI) disorders.

27 Aug 2025

New research reveals why blood clotting malfunctions in inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease, in which the immune system attacks the gut, is a painful chronic condition that affects three million Americans. Rates of IBD are rising, and there's currently no cure. IBD can also be deadly: up to 8% of people with the disease develop blood clots, which can lead to heart attack and stroke.

25 Aug 2025

Antibiotics in pregnancy and infancy do not raise autoimmune disease risk in children

A nationwide Korean cohort study found that antibiotic use during pregnancy or early infancy did not increase overall risk of childhood autoimmune diseases. Subgroup signals for Crohn’s disease and autoimmune thyroiditis warrant cautious follow-up.

25 Aug 2025

Researchers discover why smoking tobacco helps people with ulcerative colitis

Researchers led by Hiroshi Ohno at the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS) in Japan have discovered why smoking tobacco helps people suffering from ulcerative colitis, a chronic disease typified by inflammation of the large intestine.

25 Aug 2025

Boston University launches project to improve colonoscopy access for autistic adults

Boston University has been approved for a funding award through the Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Award Program, an initiative of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI).

21 Aug 2025

Red meat consumption disrupts gut bacteria and worsens colonic inflammation

Epidemiological studies have revealed a strong correlation between red meat consumption and the development of inflammatory bowel disease.

20 Aug 2025

Fucosylation emerges as a key player in digestive inflammatory diseases and cancers

Fucosylation, a crucial post-translational modification, has emerged as a significant factor influencing digestive inflammatory diseases and cancers.

18 Aug 2025

FastUKB transforms UK Biobank research with seamless data extraction and analysis

FastUKB is an innovative tool specifically developed to streamline and enhance research workflows utilizing the UK Biobank, effectively addressing key limitations of existing platforms such as the UK Biobank Research Analysis Platform (RAP).

18 Aug 2025

Gut neurons drive immune responses through adrenomedullin 2

Neurons in the gut produce a molecule that plays a pivotal role in shaping the gut's immune response during and after inflammation, according to a new study by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators.

17 Aug 2025

Colorectal cancer rates nearly triple among younger people in Sweden

According to a study by Karolinska Institutet, nearly three times as many people under the age of 50 in Sweden are diagnosed with colorectal cancer today compared with the early 1990s.

14 Aug 2025

Survey reveals persistent challenges of IBS on daily life and productivity

Despite social media helping to increase awareness of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) among the public (81% of health care providers agree) and advancements in treatment over the past decade, IBS symptoms continue to significantly impact patients' daily lives and productivity, according to a new survey released by the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), in partnership with The Harris Poll, a Stagwell (STGW) agency.

7 Aug 2025

Mouth and gut microbes talk to each other - here’s why it matters for disease

Researchers reviewed nearly 250 studies to uncover how the oral and gut microbiomes communicate through multiple pathways, influencing the risk of diseases such as IBD, colorectal cancer, and cardiovascular disorders. The review highlights that maintaining oral health and dietary habits is crucial for overall systemic wellbeing.

4 Aug 2025

Creatine in your diet may benefit your digestive system

Findings suggest dietary creatine from meat may alleviate chronic constipation, with stronger effects observed in men and those without certain health issues.

4 Aug 2025