A Prospective Study of Long-term Intake of Dietary Fiber and Risk of Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis

Intake of the highest quintile of dietary fiber (median of 24.3 g/day) is associated with a 40% reduction in the risk of Crohn's disease.

• 269 cases of Crohn's disease and 338 cases of ulcerative colitis were confirmed among participants over 26 years.
• The incidence of Crohn's disease was 8 cases per 100,000 person-years, while ulcerative colitis had an incidence of 10 cases per 100,000 person-years.
• Higher dietary fiber intake, particularly from fruits, was linked to a reduced risk of Crohn's disease, with a hazard ratio of 0.59.
• No significant association was found between total dietary fiber intake or specific sources of fiber and the risk of ulcerative colitis.
• Further studies are needed to explore the mechanisms that may explain the observed association with Crohn's disease.

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