Dietary interventions are potentially effective therapiesfor inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). Wetested the effect of 4-day fasting-mimicking diet(FMD) cycles on a chronic dextran sodium sulfate(DSS)-induced murine model resulting in symptomsand pathology associated with IBD. These FMD cyclesreduced intestinal inflammation, increasedstem cell number, stimulated protective gut microbiota,and reversed intestinal pathology caused byDSS, whereas water-only fasting increased regenerativeand reduced inflammatory markers withoutreversing pathology. Transplants of Lactobacillus orfecal microbiota from DSS- and FMD-treated micereversed DSS-induced colon shortening, reducedinflammation, and increased colonic stem cells. In aclinical trial, three FMD cycles reduced markersassociated with systemic inflammation. The effectof FMD cycles on microbiota composition, immunecell profile, intestinal stem cell levels and the reversalof pathology associated with IBD in mice, and theanti-inflammatory effects demonstrated in a clinicaltrial show promise for FMD cycles to ameliorateIBD-associated inflammation in humans.
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