Researchers in Switzerland studied 111 children and teens with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to understand why many try complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) like herbs, supplements, and special diets. They found that about 65% of these young patients used at least one alternative treatment since their diagnosis. Most also took vitamins and minerals, and more than half followed special diets—often ones they chose themselves rather than prescribed by doctors. Interestingly, kids using alternative treatments didn’t report better quality of life than those who didn’t, but they felt their health improved anyway. The study shows that alternative medicine use is very common in young IBD patients and is closely connected to dietary choices.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How many kids with inflammatory bowel disease use alternative treatments like herbs, supplements, and special diets, and whether these treatments help them feel better
  • Who participated: 111 children and teenagers in Switzerland with inflammatory bowel disease (65 had Crohn’s disease, 41 had ulcerative colitis, and 5 had other types of IBD)
  • Key finding: About 2 out of 3 kids with IBD used at least one alternative treatment, and kids who followed self-chosen special diets were much more likely to use alternative medicine. However, kids using alternative treatments didn’t have better overall quality of life compared to those who didn’t use them.
  • What it means for you: If your child has IBD and you’re considering alternative treatments, know that many families try them. While kids report feeling better, the research doesn’t show these treatments improve quality of life more than standard medical care. Always talk to your doctor before starting any alternative treatment, as some may interfere with regular medications.

The Research Details

This study followed children and teenagers with inflammatory bowel disease who were already part of a larger Swiss research program. Researchers asked these young patients and their families to fill out a questionnaire about what alternative treatments they used, what supplements they took, and what dietary restrictions they followed. They then looked at the answers to see which kids used alternative medicine and what characteristics they had in common.

The researchers compared kids who used alternative treatments with those who didn’t, looking at factors like the type of IBD they had, what medications they took, and how they felt overall. They used statistical methods to find patterns and connections between alternative medicine use and other factors in the kids’ lives and health.

This research approach is important because it captures real-world choices that families make when dealing with IBD. Rather than testing one specific treatment in a controlled setting, this study shows what actually happens in everyday life. This helps doctors understand what families are doing and why, so they can have better conversations with patients about their treatment choices.

This study has some strengths: it included kids from across an entire country, and it asked detailed questions about their actual practices. However, there are limitations to keep in mind. The sample size is relatively small (111 kids), so the results may not apply to all children with IBD everywhere. The study only shows what kids are doing, not whether alternative treatments actually work better or worse than standard care. Also, kids and families who chose to answer the questionnaire might be different from those who didn’t, which could affect the results.

What the Results Show

The study found that alternative medicine use is very common among kids with IBD. About 65% of the children had tried at least one complementary or alternative treatment since being diagnosed. Even more striking, 73% of the kids took vitamins or mineral supplements, and 53% followed special diets. Importantly, about two-thirds of these dietary restrictions were chosen by the families themselves rather than prescribed by doctors.

One clear pattern emerged: kids who followed self-imposed diets were much more likely to use alternative treatments. In fact, kids with self-chosen dietary restrictions were about 4.5 times more likely to use alternative medicine compared to those who didn’t follow special diets. This suggests that families interested in alternative approaches tend to combine them—using special diets along with herbs, supplements, and other treatments.

Interestingly, the type of IBD the child had (Crohn’s disease versus ulcerative colitis) didn’t affect whether they used alternative treatments. Also, kids who needed stronger biological medications (powerful drugs used for severe IBD) were just as likely to use alternative treatments as those who didn’t need them.

The study looked at whether kids using alternative treatments had better quality of life or less disease activity (fewer symptoms and less inflammation). Surprisingly, there was no difference between kids who used alternative treatments and those who didn’t when measured by standard quality-of-life questionnaires or disease activity scores. However, when asked directly, kids using alternative treatments reported feeling like their health had improved. This suggests that while alternative treatments might make kids feel better subjectively, they don’t necessarily reduce symptoms or inflammation more than standard medical care does.

This research adds to a growing body of evidence showing that alternative medicine use is common in children with chronic diseases, particularly IBD. Previous studies in other countries have found similar patterns—many families try complementary treatments alongside conventional medicine. This Swiss study confirms that this trend exists in Europe as well. However, like other studies in this area, it doesn’t prove that alternative treatments are more effective than standard care; it just shows what families are choosing to do.

Several important limitations should be considered. First, the study only included 111 kids, which is a relatively small number, so the findings might not apply to all children with IBD worldwide. Second, the study only shows what kids are doing at one point in time; it doesn’t follow them over years to see if alternative treatments help long-term. Third, families who answered the questionnaire might be different from those who didn’t, which could skew the results. Fourth, the study doesn’t prove that alternative treatments caused any improvements—kids might have felt better for other reasons. Finally, the study doesn’t compare alternative treatments to placebos or standard care in a controlled way, so we can’t say whether they actually work.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, here are evidence-based recommendations: (1) If you’re considering alternative treatments for your child’s IBD, talk to your child’s gastroenterologist first—some alternative treatments can interfere with regular medications. (2) Vitamins and mineral supplements are commonly used and may help fill nutritional gaps, but discuss which ones are appropriate with your doctor. (3) Special diets are popular, but work with a dietitian to make sure your child gets proper nutrition. (4) Don’t replace standard IBD medications with alternative treatments alone, as the research doesn’t show alternative treatments work better. Confidence level: Moderate—this is based on observational data, not controlled trials.

This research matters most for families with children who have inflammatory bowel disease, especially those considering alternative treatments. It’s also relevant for pediatric gastroenterologists who care for these kids, so they understand what families are doing and can have informed conversations about it. Parents should care because it shows how common these practices are and reminds them to involve their doctor in treatment decisions. This research is less relevant for families without children or those whose children don’t have IBD.

If your child starts alternative treatments, don’t expect immediate results. Most families report gradual improvements over weeks to months. However, remember that IBD symptoms naturally fluctuate, so it can be hard to know if improvements are from the alternative treatment or just the disease getting better on its own. Give any new approach at least 4-8 weeks while continuing standard medical care, and track symptoms carefully.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily symptom scores (1-10 scale for pain, bathroom frequency, energy level) alongside which alternative treatments or supplements were used that day. This helps you and your doctor see if there’s a real connection between the treatment and symptom improvement.
  • If considering alternative treatments, use the app to: (1) Log which treatments you’re considering, (2) Set reminders to discuss them with your doctor before starting, (3) Record your child’s baseline symptoms for 2 weeks before starting anything new, so you have a clear comparison point.
  • Create a long-term tracking system that records: weekly symptom severity, which supplements/treatments were taken, dietary changes, medication adherence, and overall quality-of-life ratings. Review this data monthly with your healthcare team to see if patterns emerge. This helps distinguish between real improvements and natural disease fluctuations.

This research describes what families are doing, not what they should do. Alternative treatments are not proven to work better than standard medical care for IBD. Always consult your child’s gastroenterologist before starting any complementary or alternative treatment, as some may interfere with prescribed medications or worsen the condition. This article is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Individual responses to treatments vary greatly, and what works for one child may not work for another.