A)Background:

Approximately 44% of patients with Inflammatory bowel disease have Ulcerative colitis(UC) which is a lifelong, chronic disease, starting in early adulthood, where the colon becomes inflamed and ulcerated due to a complex interaction between genetics, altered immune function, and environmental factors2such as dietary intake. While the etiology of UC is not clear, it is hypothesized the abnormal immune response and chronic inflammation may be caused by dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota and decreased epithelial barrier function. Substantial evidence suggests that higher than normal levels of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in the colon plays a role in the etiology of UC. The higher levels of H2S and sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) found in the feces of patients with UC is likely caused by the reduced conversion of H2S to thiosulfate by rhodanese (thiosulfate transferase enzyme)12, and increased colonization or activity of SRB. For example, SRB has been identified as the predominant bacterial group in patients with UC compared to the minority group in healthy individuals, and SRB growth is stimulated by the presence of sulfur-rich amino acids. Dietary intervention may help to repair the dysbiosis existing in the microbiome of the patient with UC, but research about food and recurrence of UC is conflicting. Dietary components such as sulfur and sulfates also appear to play a role in the recurrence of UC; although a recent review of the relationship between sulfur-containing foods and UC calls for more randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining a reduced sulfur diet in UC. With the body of evidence described above, there is a compelling reason to consider that sulfur and sulfate-containing foods contribute to developing severe UC. Thus, understanding how dietary modulation of sulfur intake within the context of UC impacts disease status is the focus of this proposal.

A)Overview and Specific Aims:

Higher than normal levels of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in the colon plays an important role in the etiology of ulcerative colitis (UC). Increased H2S impairs the colonic cell's ability to oxidize butyrate and other short-chain fatty acids required for cell nutrition. Sulfur in the human body is largely provided by diet; high intakes of sulfur and sulfate-containing foods have been found to be associated with an increased risk of recurrence of UC. Hence, it is only rational to identify whether foods high in sulfur or sulfate increase the risk of poor outcomes in UC. To our knowledge, there have been no studies investigating the impact of a reduced sulfur diet compared to conventional management on disease severity in patients with UC. Our main objectives are to identify if a reduced sulfur diet added to conventional management results in 1. improved disease severity, 2. reduced exposure of the host to sulfur-containing compounds, and 3. alterations in the microbiome of the patients. To achieve these objectives, we will randomly allocate the patients to either the conventional management (CM) or reduced sulfur diet intervention group (INT) and obtain the Mayo score, concentrations of fecal hydrogen sulphide (H2S), methanethiol (MT), and dimethyl sulphide (DMS), and urinary dimethyl sulfone (DM202) and 3-indoxyl sulfate and fecal microbiome at baseline and after 8 weeks. The INT group will also receive diet counselling by a registered dietician (RD).

B)Hypothesis:

A reduced sulfur diet would result in improved disease severity compared to conventional management in UC patients.

C)Objectives:

Primary objective:

1. To pilot-test the feasibility of a reduced sulfur diet added to conventional management with oral and/or topical 5-ASA ± corticosteroid therapy to improve disease severity, measured by a clinically meaningful improvement in Total Mayo Score & partial Mayo Score from baseline to week 8 compared to conventional management alone.

Secondary objectives:

1. To pilot-test the feasibility of a reduced sulfur diet added to conventional management with oral and/or 5-ASA ± oral corticosteroids to lower exposure of the host to sulfur-containing compounds from baseline to week 8 measured by fecal hydrogen sulphide (H2S), methanethiol (MT), and dimethyl sulphide (DMS), and; urinary dimethyl sulfone (DM202), and 3-indoxyl sulfate concentration compared to conventional management alone.
2. To examine the effect of a reduced sulfur diet on the microbiome of patients with UC.
3. To identify patient experience with a reduced sulfur diet using health related quality of life (HRQoL), and patient experience with chronic disease care measures.
4. To examine the effect of a reduced sulfur diet on inflammatory cytokines in patients with UC.

D) Methods

Study Design :

This pilot randomized controlled trial will have an 8-week interventional design that will take place at the University of Calgary (UofC).

Patient Recruitment:

Dr. Raman, the principal investigator, will oversee recruitment of eligible patients. In addition, Dr. Panaccione, Director of the IBD unit at the University of Calgary, and co-investigator for this study who along with the eight physicians associated with the IBD group at the University of Calgary will identify eligible study patients through dedicated outpatient IBD clinics and refer to Dr. Raman and the study coordinator for recruitment. The Calgary IBD unit assesses approximately 600 patients per month with at least 20 of them meeting eligibility criteria for this research project. All patients with UC in the IBD clinic who meet inclusion criteria will be approached for participation by the study coordinator after approval from their gastroenterologist.

Randomization of the patients:

After the patient consents to participate s/he will be randomly allocated to either the conventional management (CM) or intervention group (INT). Randomization will be performed using a computerised random number generator and group assignment will be concealed from the study coordinator enrolling patients until the time of assignment using sealed envelopes.

Intervention:

The INT group will receive conventional management plus a reduced sulfur diet and diet counselling by an RD. Implementation of the diet will be delivered directly by the RD and will provide each patient with an individualized plan. A reduced sulfur diet includes reducing foods, food additives (e.g., carrageenan) and beverages high in sulfate/sulfur associated with increased severity of UC consuming drinking water low in sulfate (can be as high as 500 mg/L in Alberta so identifying drinking water source is necessary)21, limiting sulfur containing supplements (e.g., chondroitin sulfate), and consuming omega-3 fatty acid supplements to potentially help control overgrowth of sulfur-reducing bacteria in the colon14. Omega-3 fatty acid intake for cardiovascular disease prevention should be around 500 mg/d23. In a representative Canadian population, average intake was 291 mg/d and 85% of adults were not meeting daily requirements23. After dietary assessment if patients are not meeting their required daily intake of 500 mg/d of Omega-3, the RD will recommend increased fish consumption to 200 g per week or 1 g/d of an Omega-3 supplement. This will ensure the daily recommended intake of 500 mg/d is being met to reduce the chances of a deficiency; however, a therapeutic dose for UC will not be recommended (i.e., > 4 g/d18). The CM group will receive one session with RD on reduced sulfur diet at the end of 8 weeks.

The reduced sulfur diet eating plan, resources on reduced sulfur eating, and RD counselling session will be designed and reviewed by experts in nutrition, dietary design, education resources and dietary behaviour change. Both the INT and CM groups will receive conventional management with visits to the clinic at 4 weeks to ensure completion of their 24-hour food recalls and food frequency questionnaires, and to discuss disease course with their physician.

Inclusion Criteria

• Age ≥18 years.
• Currently experiencing a mild or moderate UC flare managed with either ≥1.2 grams of oral 5-ASA, topical 5-ASA, combination oral and topical 5-ASA with or without oral corticosteroid therapy or UC in remission, define by partial Mayo score < 3, treated with any 5-ASA preparation, or biologic therapies
• Ability to provide informed consent and willingness to undergo 2 endoscopic assessments if flare.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Experiencing a severe UC flare.
• Have any other major medical comorbidities (diabetes, active malignancy within the past 5 years, active infections, severe respiratory or cardiac disease, or acute or chronic kidney disease).
• Have a history of previous bowel surgery.
• Smokers.