IBD, ALLERGIES, AND FOOD INTOLERANCE
"In your clinical experience, what is the role of food allergy and/or intolerance in the genesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)?" asked Medscape Gastroenterology (February 7, 2006) of Dr. Sunanda V. Kane of Chicago.

"Patients with IBD are more likely to suffer from food allergies or intolerances than the normal population," was part of Dr. Kane's response.

Also: "Certainly those patients who have undiagnosed food intolerances are less likely to respond to standard IBD therapies."

Dr. Kane advises doctors to counsel patients "regarding their dietary habits to monitor which specific foods or food groups may trigger worse gastrointestinal or systemic symptoms" and notes that elimination diets are rarely needed for IBD patients.