Established
Exclusive enteral nutrition
A period of formula-only feeding, typically six to eight weeks, with no other food.
Dietary approaches in IBD
Ranked by how well supported they are, from guideline-endorsed induction therapy to approaches with no controlled trials at all.
Promising
Crohn's disease exclusion diet (CDED)
A structured whole-food diet with partial enteral nutrition, excluding specific processed components.
Promising
Low-FODMAP diet
Short-term restriction of fermentable carbohydrates, then structured reintroduction.
Promising
Mediterranean diet
High vegetable, legume, olive oil and fish intake; low processed meat and refined carbohydrate.
Promising
Specific carbohydrate diet (SCD)
Excludes grains, lactose and most sweeteners, permitting monosaccharides.
Promising
Partial enteral nutrition
Formula providing part of daily energy alongside ordinary food.
Limited
Gluten-free diet in IBD
Removing wheat, barley and rye in the absence of coeliac disease.
Popular but weak
Carnivore and other elimination extremes
Animal foods only, excluding all plant matter.
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