Impact of Bread Diet on Intestinal Dysbiosis and Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms in Quiescent Ulcerative Colitis

Impact of Bread Diet on Intestinal Dysbiosis and Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms in Quiescent Ulcerative Colitis: A Pilot Study

The present study aimed to compare the in vivo prebiotic properties of bread produced by traditional breadmaking techniques with that made using a modern breadmaking method on Irritable Bowel Syndrome-like symptoms in patients with quiescent Ulcerative Colitis. The expected outcome of the differential effects was a change in the faecal microbiome composition, which may indicate changes in the mucosa-associated microbiota.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients diagnosed with ulcerative colitis according to established clinical and histological criteria as common clinical practice
• Remission of ulcerative colitis defined as a total Mayo score ≤2 and faecal calprotectin values under 250 ng/g
• Subjects aged over 18 years
• Moderate-to-severe IBS-like symptomatology defined by Rome IV criteria and IBS Symptom Severity Score (IBS-SSS) > 175.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of flare-up of UC
• Coeliac disease, colectomy, or intestinal resection
• Antibiotic intake, prebiotic or probiotic treatment within 3 months before the study
• Any malignancy, pregnancy, or breastfeeding
• Intake of medication potentially influencing gastrointestinal function
• Disability to give informed consent