Can the right diet "reset" our microbiome?
Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that affects the lives of millions of people worldwide. One proven therapy is so-called exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) - a special liquid diet that patients consume for six to eight weeks instead of solid food. This method has proven to be extremely effective, but why it helps was previously unclear.
Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and LMU University Hospital Munich have now decoded the mechanism behind this - and are going one step further. A new clinical study is investigating whether the combination of EEN and fecal microbiome transplantation (FMT) can improve treatment success in the long term.
What happens in the microbiome during therapy?
The scientists led by Prof. Dirk Haller (TUM) and Dr. Tobias Schwerd (LMU) have discovered that the medium-chain fatty acids in the special liquid food have a positive effect on the microbiome. Certain healthy intestinal bacteria multiply and help to reduce inflammation.
A key finding: when the gut is confronted with normal food again after therapy, the microbiome often returns to its original state - and the inflammation flares up again. This is where the new therapy comes in:
👉 After EEN therapy, patients receive a microbiome transplant in capsule form to maintain the positive effects for longer and delay or even prevent relapses.
New study: Microbiome transplantation as a beacon of hope
The clinical study is being conducted in cooperation with the LMU Children's Hospital in Munich and the University Hospital of Cologne. The microbiome capsules come from healthy, carefully screened donors and are produced at the University Hospital of Cologne under the direction of Prof. Maria J.G.T. Vehreschild.
💡 Central research questions
- ✔ How safe is microbiome transplantation after EEN?
- ✔ Is this therapy practicable?
- ✔ Can it stabilize the absence of inflammation in the long term?
Prof. Haller explains:
"Fecal microbiome transplants are already being used successfully for other intestinal diseases. We hope that this approach also has a promising future for Crohn's disease."
Study participation:
People between the ages of 14 and 45 can take part, and later children from the age of 8. More information on participation can be found at www.een-rich.de.
Conclusion
This study could revolutionize the treatment of Crohn's disease. If it turns out that the microbiome can be permanently altered through targeted nutrition and transplantation, this could open up a completely new treatment option for millions of sufferers worldwide.
Further sources:
Study: Häcker, D., Siebert, K., Smith, B. J. et al, Cell Host & Microbe (2024) - DOI-Link
Research Center: SFB 1371 "Microbiome Signatures" - learn more
Certain foods can also have an anti-inflammatory effect and strengthen the microbiome: The perfect smoothie for people with IBD: Anti-inflammatory, gut-friendly & nutrient-rich
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