Can a special diet calm your gut? new study tests food as medicine for Crohn's and colitis

NCT ID NCT02412553

Ongoing Disease control Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This study tests whether two special diets—the specific carbohydrate diet or an elemental (liquid) diet—can help people with active Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis feel better. Forty adults will choose one diet and follow it for 6 weeks, while researchers track symptoms, inflammation, and gut bacteria changes. The goal is to see if diet alone can bring the disease under control.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: specific carbohydrate diet or elemental diet (enteral nutrition)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a dietary approach to manage Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis without relying solely on medication.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early study with only 40 people and no placebo group, so results may not apply widely. Diets can be hard to follow long-term, and the effect on disease may be modest or temporary.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Crohn disease ulcerative colitis

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

CROHN'S DISEASE

Contacts and locations

Locations

Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States

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