Abstract Background Dietary modification is a common self-management strategy in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), used by patients to alleviate symptoms and prevent disease flares. While diet is increasingly recognised as an important pathogenic factor in IBD, the impact of the disease on patients’ beliefs and dietary choices remains poorly characterised. At the same time, concerns persist regarding the potential consequences of restrictive dietary patterns, including nutritional deficiencies and selective eating behaviours. Aim: This study explores dietary practices in IBD in Sweden and the perceptions of the role of diet in disease course and symptom control, including variations by disease phenotype. This is the first investigation to address these questions in a Swedish context. Methods A 42-item dietary questionnaire on food choices and beliefs was distributed to all adult members of Sweden’s largest organization for patients diagnosed with IBD. Results Of the 2,193 individuals invited, 738 (34%) completed the questionnaire, (Crohn’s disease (CD) 361 (49%); ulcerative colitis (UC) 377 (51%)). IBD impacted thoughts about food in 521 (71%), with no significant difference between CD and UC. A higher proportion of those with CD (254, 70%) than UC (231, 61%), reported changing their diet due to IBD (p = 0,009). A higher proportion of patients with CD (187, 52%), compared with UC (164 (43), avoids certain foods in the belief that this can prevent flare-ups (p = 0,024). Thirty-eight percent (n = 278) of patients had not received dietary advice. This was more common in UC (187 50%) than in CD (91 25%), (p 0,001). Conclusion Beliefs about food influence dietary choices in patients with IBD, many of whom modify their diet. This tendency appears to be more pronounced among CD patients than UC patients. UC patients are significantly less likely than CD patients to receive dietary advice, revealing a gap in care. Conflict of interest: Ms. Andersson, Sara: No conflict of interest Korwel, Katarina Marta: No conflict of interest Sjoberg, Klas: Consultant: Ferring and Tillotts Pihl Lesnovska, Katarina: No conflict of interest Whelan, Kevin: No conflict of interest Hedin, Charlotte Rose: No conflict of interest Vulcan, Alexandra: No conflict of interest
Andersson et al. (Thu,) studied this question.