How fasting can dramatically reduce symptoms of stomach condition
A new study found that intermittent fasting for eight hours can significantly reduce symptoms of Crohn’s disease.
According to the NHS, Crohn’s disease is a long-term condition in which part of the bowel becomes inflamed. It cannot currently be cured, and common symptoms include diarrhea, blood or mucus in the poop, and stomach pain.
Researchers at the University of Calgary found that time-restricted eating can reduce disease activity by 40 percent and halve abdominal discomfort in people living with Crohn’s disease over 12 weeks.
Participants in the clinical trial funded by the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation followed an intermittent fasting program, eating 8 hours per day and fasting for the remaining 16 hours, without any calorie-cutting instructions.
On average, subjects lost an average of 5.5 pounds during the study, while those in the control group gained about 3.7 pounds.
Blood tests also showed notable improvements in inflammation and immune function.
The findings were published in the journal Gastroenterology. People with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are advised to consult with their healthcare provider before adjusting their eating schedules to determine whether intermittent fasting is right for them.
The study included 35 adults with Crohn’s disease and living with obesity or overweight. 20 participants were assigned to follow time-restricted feeding, while 15 continued their normal diet.
Researchers assessed disease activity, inflammation and body composition at both the beginning and end of the study.
“This study shows that although weight loss is an important outcome in overweight people with Crohn’s disease, time-restricted eating offers additional benefits beyond just scale,” said the study’s senior author, Maitreyi Raman, MD.
He added: “We saw significant improvements in disease symptoms, reductions in abdominal discomfort, positive changes in metabolism and inflammation, and promising changes in gut bacteria, all of which suggest that intermittent fasting may help patients maintain lasting relief from Crohn’s disease.”
“Time-restricted feeding shows real promise as a new way to help people with Crohn’s disease manage not only their symptoms but also their overall health,” said Andres Lorenzo Hurtado, senior vice president of translational research at the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.
“This research suggests that changing not just what we eat, but when we eat, can improve metabolism, help the immune system work better, and support long-term recovery from Crohn’s disease. We’re excited to support studies like this that put patients at the center of new solutions and encourage further research to ensure these benefits last for everyone living with IBD.”
Natasha Haskey is a research assistant at the University of British Columbia and the study’s principal investigator. “People with Crohn’s disease often look for practical tools to support their health in addition to medication.
“Our research shows that time-restricted feeding may be a sustainable option based on biology and may offer patients more ways to manage their own health.”
Beyond relieving symptoms, the intermittent fasting group also experienced a significant reduction in harmful visceral fat and key inflammatory signals in the bloodstream.
The improvements were not simply the result of better diet quality or lower calorie intake, as both groups consumed similar foods in comparable amounts.
Instead, the findings suggest that meal timing itself may play an important role in digestive and immune health.
Although the results are encouraging, the researchers emphasize that larger studies are needed to determine the long-term safety and effectiveness of time-restricted feeding for a broader population of people living with IBD.
