TOPLINE

Increased intake of two fermentable fibers, inulin and beta-glucan, was associated with a significantly reduced risk of developing Crohn’s disease (CD) among first-degree relatives of patients with the condition.

METHODOLOGY

• Data came from 3314 healthy first-degree relatives of CD patients in the GEM (Genetic, Environmental, Microbial) prospective cohort from the US (80%) and Israel.
• Participants completed a validated food frequency questionnaire at enrollment and were followed up every 6 months and monitored for development of CD for a median of around 9 years.
• Intake of pectin, beta-glucan, inulin, fructooligosaccharides (FOS), and arabinoxylan was quantified and energy-adjusted.
• Associations with CD incidence and biomarkers (intestinal permeability, fecal calprotectin, microbiome) were analyzed. 

TAKEAWAY

• Ninety-six participants developed CD.
• Higher intake of beta-glucan, found in oats, barley, mushrooms and yeast (hazard ratio [HR], 0.70; 95% CI, 0.54-0.92; P =.009), and inulin, found in chicory, onions, and garlic (HR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.48-0.96; P =.028), was significantly associated with a lower risk of developing CD.
• Lower intake of pectin, inulin, FOS, and beta-glucan was linked to impaired intestinal permeability and subclinical inflammation, while lower inulin intake was associated with high faecal calprotectin levels (P =.046).
• Higher beta-glucan intake was related to a lower CD risk among individuals with higher Colidextribacter abundance. 

IN PRACTICE

“We found that two specific fiber types [inulin and beta-glucan] are associated with a reduced risk of future development of Crohn’s disease, each associated with around a 30% reduction in risk, in conjunction with preserved gut barrier function indicating that we have a potential tool to prevent the risk of developing Crohn’s disease in high-risk populations,” said study lead Williams Turpin, PhD,a translational research scientist at Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada, who presented the study. 

SOURCE

The study was conducted by researchers from the Crohn’s and Colitis Canada GEM Project and affiliated institutions. Findings were presented at United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Week 2025.

LIMITATIONS

The cohort comprised young first-degree relatives of CD patients, which may limit generalizability. Dietary intake was self-reported, and causality cannot be inferred.

DISCLOSURES

Turpin reported no relevant conflicts of interest.