A diversified dietary pattern is associated with a balanced gut microbial composition of Faecalibacterium and Escherichia/Shigella in patients with Crohn's disease in remission.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Crohn's disease (CD) is associated with alterations in gut microbial composition and function. This controlled-intervention study investigated the relationship between patterns of dietary intake and baseline gut microbiota in CD patients in remission and examined the effects of a dietary intervention in patients consuming a non-diversified diet (NDD). METHODS: Forty outpatients with quiescent CD were recruited in Calgary, Alberta Canada. Based on 3-day food records, patients consuming a lower plant-based and higher red and processed meat-based diet were assigned to the NDD group (n=15) and received a 12-week structured dietary intervention; all other patients were assigned to the diversified diet (DD) control group (n=25) and received conventional management. Fecal microbiota composition, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and calprotectin were measured. RESULTS: At baseline NDD and DD groups had a different fecal microbial beta-diversity (p=0.003, PERMANOVA). NDD group had lower Faecalibacterium and higher Escherichia/Shigella relative abundances compared to the DD group (3.3+/-5.4% vs. 8.5+/-10.6%; 6.9+/-12.2% vs. 1.6+/-4.4%; p