A REVIEW OF ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN CROHNS-DISEASE AND CONSUMPTION OF SUGARS

Objectives: To critically review the available literature reporting as sociations between the onset of Crohn's disease and intakes of sugars or sugar-containing foods. To evaluate published evidence on the use o f dietary manipulation of sugars in the treatment of Crohn's disease. Design: All publications from refereed journals which reported intakes of sugars and sugar-containing foods in the context of Crohn's diseas e onset or treatment were selected. Conclusion: Evidence suggesting a relationship between sugars and onset of Crohn's disease was inconsist ent and subject to important methodological limitations. There was a c lear lack of distinction between reporting of current, as opposed to, retrospective intakes. There appeared to be no clinical advantage to t he use of reduced sugar diets in Crohn's disease treatment.