The trial showed that a calorie-restricted diet that mimics fasting (Fasting-Mimicking Diet (FMD)) gives patients a significant improvement in their symptoms and an improvement in their quality of life.
The FMD diet is a type of diet designed to mimic the effects of complete fasting on the body, while allowing for limited consumption of low-calorie, nutrient-rich foods. The basic idea behind this diet is to encourage the body to take advantage of the benefits of fasting—such as cell repair and reduced inflammation—without completely abstaining from food.
The study was conducted on 97 patients with Crohn's disease between 2019 and 2023. The participants were divided into two groups:
65 patients followed a low-calorie, fasting-mimicking diet for five consecutive days each monthw over a period of three months.
32 patients continued their usual diet.
The diet provided pre-prepared meals ranging from 725 to 1090 calories per day, with a careful balance of fats, proteins and carbohydrates, and substitution of the provided food was only possible with the approval of a nutritionist.
By the end of the study:
Approximately 69% of participants in the diet group achieved clinically significant improvement, compared to 44% in the control group.
65% of participants in the diet group entered a clinical remission phase, compared to 38% in the control group.
A significant decrease was observed in fecal calprotectin, a key indicator of intestinal inflammation, while blood indicators such as C-reactive protein did not change significantly.
Participants also reported improved control of diarrhea and abdominal pain, and a higher sense of quality of life, especially among patients with mild or moderate Crohn's disease who were not taking advanced medications, with more than 75% of them showing improvement.
Side effects were limited and temporary, such as fatigue and mild headaches, and no serious side effects were reported. Adherence to the diet was good, with participants completing approximately 77% of the courses.
Crohn's disease is currently incurable and its prevalence is increasing, particularly among young people. The disease's spread is linked to environmental factors and the Western lifestyle, rich in processed foods, as well as the hygiene hypothesis, which explains the increased activity of the immune system against the body's own tissues.
Current treatments include potent immunosuppressants or short-acting corticosteroids, both of which carry long-term risks. In contrast, dietary changes offer a low-impact and easy-to-adhere option, requiring only five days of adherence per month, after which the patient can return to their usual routine.
The study was published in the journal Nature Medicine.
