While the current leading forms of treatment for Crohn’s Disease have been immunosuppressive and biologic medications, more focus needs to be placed on alternative therapies for those who cannot tolerate the drugs that are frequently prescribed. One alternative therapy that is being researched is the implementation of a solely diet-based approach for the purpose of limiting disease activity. This review will evaluate the efficacy of the three main diet-based interventions as monotherapy—Exclusive Enteral Nutrition (EEN), Partial Enteral Nutrition (PEN), and the Crohn’s Disease Exclusion Diet (CDED)—with focus placed on the assessment of inflammatory markers and patient reported outcomes.

Approximately 10% of the world’s population is affected by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a common gastrointestinal disorder that is notable for abdominal pain and bloating. These appear as several subtypes of symptoms that likely result from individuals’ unique microbiota and response to psychological stress. This literature review investigates the factors that lead to IBS and its diverse treatment options.