Exploring the Links Between Demographic, Clinical, and Dietary Influences on Inflammatory Bowel Disease Flares: Insights from the PREdiCCt Prospective Cohort Study

To determine the association between habitual diet and disease flare in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Study Design: A large, multicentre, prospective cohort study (PREdiCCt) was conducted with 2629 participants diagnosed with IBD, followed for a minimum of 24 months.
Data Collection: Participants provided demographic details, routine laboratory markers, and completed questionnaires on diet and lifestyle, along with a 4-day weighed food diary.

Higher total meat intake was associated with an increased risk of objective flares in ulcerative colitis (UC), independent of demographic, clinical, and biochemical factors.
No consistent associations were found for ultraprocessed foods, fibre, or polyunsaturated fatty acid intake.

Habitual diet may be a modifiable risk factor for relapse in UC, suggesting the need for structured dietary assessment in routine care.

The study focused primarily on dietary factors without exploring other potential influences on disease flares.
Follow-up for patient-reported flares was limited to 24 months.

The findings provide a foundation for future dietary intervention and mechanistic studies in IBD management.