Diet in the etiology of inflammatory bowel disease

The two predominant forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) namely Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) can have a significant impact on patients' quality of life and incur major costs in terms of time off work and for therapies. The precise aetiology of IBD is unknown, but is probably due to a combination of: genetic, immunological and environmental factors. The role for the latter is strongly supported by rises in the incidence of IBD in the 20th century, and emergence of both CD and UC in countries in the East. Dietary changes over time and according to region may be the environmental factor explaining these incidence patterns.