Researchers studied 96 people with Crohn’s disease who were feeling better and had low inflammation markers. They found that people who followed a Mediterranean diet (eating lots of vegetables, fish, and olive oil) were more likely to stay in remission—meaning their disease stayed calm and didn’t flare up. Interestingly, the benefit seemed strongest in the first three months. The study suggests that avoiding unhealthy foods might be even more important than eating all the healthy foods. While these results are promising, doctors say more research is needed to understand how long these benefits last.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether following a Mediterranean diet (eating Mediterranean-style foods) helps people with Crohn’s disease stay in remission and keep their inflammation levels low.
  • Who participated: 96 adults with Crohn’s disease who were already feeling better and had low inflammation markers when the study started.
  • Key finding: People who followed the Mediterranean diet more closely had better results at the start and after 3 months, with 97.5% staying in remission compared to 78.6% of those who didn’t follow the diet as closely.
  • What it means for you: If you have Crohn’s disease that’s currently under control, eating Mediterranean-style foods may help keep it that way, especially in the short term. However, this is one study, so talk to your doctor before making big diet changes.

The Research Details

This was a prospective cohort study, which means researchers followed the same group of people over time and watched what happened. All 96 participants started the study with their Crohn’s disease already in remission (meaning they weren’t having active symptoms and their inflammation markers were low). Researchers measured how well each person followed a Mediterranean diet using a special questionnaire called the Israeli Mediterranean dietary screener. They then tracked changes in a blood marker called fecal calprotectin, which shows how much inflammation is in the gut. They checked in with patients at the beginning, after 3 months, and after 6 months to see if their inflammation stayed low and if their diet adherence changed.

This study design is useful because it follows real people over time in their normal lives, rather than forcing them into strict controlled conditions. This makes the results more relevant to how people actually live. By tracking both diet adherence and inflammation markers over several months, researchers could see whether diet changes actually led to better health outcomes.

This study has some strengths: it followed patients over time, used a validated diet assessment tool, and measured objective inflammation markers. However, the sample size of 96 is relatively small, and the study only lasted 6 months. The study also couldn’t prove that the diet caused the better outcomes—only that they were associated. People who follow diets more carefully might also take better care of themselves in other ways, which could explain some of the benefits.

What the Results Show

People who followed the Mediterranean diet more closely at the start of the study had significantly better results. About 96% of diet-adherent people had very low inflammation (called deep remission) at the beginning, compared to 79% of those who didn’t follow the diet as closely. After 3 months, these differences remained: 97.5% of diet-adherent people stayed in remission versus 78.6% of non-adherent people. However, by 6 months, these differences disappeared, suggesting the benefit may fade over time. Interestingly, people who started out not following the diet well actually improved their adherence over the study period (increasing by 44%), while those who started out following it well decreased their adherence (dropping by 25%).

The study found something surprising: avoiding bad foods seemed more important than eating all the good foods. When researchers looked at the details, they found that people who reduced their intake of unhealthy foods had better inflammation control. However, people who increased their intake of healthy Mediterranean foods didn’t show the same benefit. This suggests that cutting out problematic foods might be the key benefit, rather than adding more healthy foods.

Previous research has shown that Mediterranean diets help with various digestive diseases and general health. This study adds to that evidence by showing the diet may help maintain remission in Crohn’s disease specifically. However, most previous studies looked at whether the diet could help during active disease flares, so this study fills a gap by examining its role in keeping disease under control.

The study only included 96 people, which is a relatively small group. The follow-up period was only 6 months, so we don’t know if benefits continue longer. The study couldn’t prove the diet caused the better outcomes—only that they were connected. People who follow diets carefully might also exercise more, manage stress better, or take medications more consistently, which could explain some benefits. The study also only included people whose disease was already under control, so results might not apply to people having active flares.

The Bottom Line

If you have Crohn’s disease that is currently in remission, following a Mediterranean diet may help keep it that way, particularly in the short term (3 months). The evidence is moderate—this is one study, so it’s not definitive. Focus especially on reducing unhealthy foods rather than just adding healthy ones. Always discuss diet changes with your gastroenterologist or a dietitian who specializes in digestive diseases, as individual needs vary.

This research is most relevant for people with Crohn’s disease whose symptoms are currently controlled. It may be less relevant for people in the middle of a disease flare. People with other digestive conditions should talk to their doctor before applying these findings. This is not medical advice for people without Crohn’s disease.

Based on this study, you might expect to see benefits within 3 months of following the diet more closely. However, the benefits seemed to fade by 6 months in this study, so maintaining the diet long-term may require ongoing effort. Real-world results vary by person.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track weekly adherence to Mediterranean diet components (servings of vegetables, fish, olive oil use, and processed food avoidance) alongside monthly fecal calprotectin test results or symptom scores to see if diet changes correlate with inflammation control.
  • Start by identifying one unhealthy food or ingredient you eat regularly and replace it with a Mediterranean alternative (for example, swap processed snacks for nuts, or use olive oil instead of butter). Track this specific swap and monitor how you feel over the following weeks.
  • Create a monthly check-in routine where you assess both your diet adherence score and your symptom/inflammation status. Use the app to set reminders for Mediterranean diet meals and track patterns over 3-month periods to identify whether your adherence correlates with better disease control.

This research suggests an association between Mediterranean diet adherence and better inflammation control in people with Crohn’s disease in remission. However, this is one study with a small sample size, and it cannot prove the diet causes these benefits. Individual responses to diet vary greatly. Before making significant dietary changes, especially if you have Crohn’s disease or other digestive conditions, consult with your gastroenterologist or a registered dietitian. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice. Do not stop or change any medications or treatments based on this information.