Fasting may reduce Crohn's disease symptoms, small trial suggests

A 12‑week clinical trial found an 8‑hour daily eating window was associated with about a 40% drop in Crohn's disease activity and a halving of abdominal discomfort in adults with overweight or obesity; researchers say larger studies are needed.

Researchers reported that time‑restricted eating — an eight‑hour daily window — was linked with reduced symptoms in a small trial of adults living with Crohn's disease. Crohn's disease is a long‑term inflammatory condition of the gut that commonly causes diarrhoea, blood or mucus in stool, and abdominal pain. The 12‑week trial focused on adults with overweight or obesity and compared an 8‑hour eating window to participants' usual diets. Results were published in Gastroenterology and the trial was funded by the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation. Key findings: - The study enrolled 35 adults with Crohn's disease and overweight or obesity; 20 followed time‑restricted feeding and 15 remained on their regular diet. - Time‑restricted feeding was reported to reduce disease activity by about 40% and to halve abdominal discomfort over the 12‑week period. - Participants in the fasting group lost an average of about 5.5 pounds while the control group gained about 3.7 pounds; blood tests showed improvements in inflammation and immune markers. - Researchers also reported reductions in harmful visceral fat and shifts in gut bacteria, and they noted that larger studies are needed to determine long‑term safety and effectiveness. Summary: The trial indicates that meal timing alone was associated with measurable improvements in symptoms, inflammation markers, and body composition among the specific group studied. Undetermined at this time: whether these results apply more broadly, and researchers have called for larger, longer studies to assess long‑term outcomes; the study also reported that people with inflammatory bowel disease were advised to consult their healthcare providers before changing eating schedules.