Patients with IBD who stayed on a Mediterranean diet for six months saw significant reductions in steatosis and active disease, an Italian study shows.

Of 165 volunteers enrolled, the 142 patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease who adhered to the diet also had reduced BMI, waist circumference and inflammatory markers, according to the report in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Investigators analysed data on 84 patients with ulcerative colitis (median age 52) and 58 with Crohn’s disease (median age 48) with a median BMI of 25 and around half the patients being classed as obese in both groups.

At baseline, participants filled out questionnaires designed to evaluate quality of life and underwent clinical and disease activity evaluation, including abdominal ultrasound to evaluate possible steatosis.