A large study of more than 100,000 children has found that a healthier lifestyle in the earliest years of life may be linked to a lower chance of developing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) later on. The link was strongest for Crohn’s disease. The findings suggest that everyday factors in infancy could play a part in long-term gut health, which may be of interest to parents and healthcare professionals alike.
What the study looked at
Researchers from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, led by Annie Guo, studied data from two Scandinavian birth groups followed between 1997 and 2009. In total, 117,487 children were included, and they were tracked until an average age of 20.
IBD refers to conditions such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, where the gut becomes inflamed over the long term. The exact causes are not fully understood, but they are thought to involve a mix of genetics, the immune system, and environmental influences.
To assess early lifestyle, the researchers created a score based on several factors recorded in infancy, including:
- Whether the child was exposed to smoking
- How the child was delivered, by vaginal birth or caesarean section
- Whether the child was breastfed
- The overall quality of the child’s diet
- Whether antibiotics had been used
- How physically active the child was
- The child’s body weight
What the researchers found
By age 20, 732 participants, around 0.6 per cent of the group, had been diagnosed with IBD. Children who had a high healthy-lifestyle score by the age of one year had a lower risk of developing IBD later, around 20 per cent lower, according to the study. The reduction was more pronounced for Crohn’s disease specifically, with around a 40 per cent lower risk reported in this group.
A similar pattern was seen when lifestyle habits were assessed at age three. Children with consistently healthy habits by that age also had a lower risk of IBD overall, and roughly a third lower risk of Crohn’s disease, the researchers reported. No clear link was found between early lifestyle and ulcerative colitis. The pattern also held true when the researchers looked specifically at cases of IBD diagnosed during childhood.
Why this matters
IBD has become more common in recent decades, and researchers are keen to understand what might influence a person’s risk of developing it. This study adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that the environment a child experiences in the first years of life, including diet, feeding methods, and exposure to antibiotics or smoking, may shape long-term gut health. According to the study authors, healthy lifestyle habits established very early in life may help reduce the chance of developing IBD, particularly Crohn’s disease.
What to keep in mind
This was an observational study, meaning it can show a link between early lifestyle and later IBD risk, but it cannot prove that one directly causes or prevents the other. The lifestyle score combined several different factors together, so it is not yet clear which individual habits matter most. The study authors also disclosed that one researcher has links to a pharmaceutical company. Further research is needed before any firm conclusions can be drawn, and the findings should not be seen as guidance to change care for children or adults living with IBD.
Reference
Guo A, et al. [Full article title not specified in the available source material]. Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis. Published online 24 August (year not specified in source material). DOI not available. Reported via HealthDay News.
This article is a journalistic summary for informational purposes only. It does not constitute clinical advice or a recommendation to alter treatment decisions.