Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Resistant starch (RS) is increasingly studied for its potential role in supporting or treating Inflammatory Bowel Disorders (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The scientific rationale is rooted in RS’s function as a prebiotic fiber: it escapes digestion in the small intestine and is fermented by gut microbiota in the colon, leading to the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), particularly butyrate. Butyrate is a key energy source for colonocytes and has anti-inflammatory properties, including modulation of cytokine release and strengthening of the epithelial barrier.

Several animal studies and small clinical trials have shown that RS supplementation can reduce intestinal inflammation, improve gut barrier function, and alter the composition of gut microbiota in ways believed to be beneficial in IBD. For example, a randomized controlled trial in ulcerative colitis patients found that RS supplementation increased fecal butyrate and improved disease markers. However, evidence is still preliminary: most human studies are small, short-term, and heterogeneous in design. While results are promising, more large-scale, longer-term clinical trials are needed to firmly establish efficacy, optimal dosing, and safety.

In summary, the use of resistant starch in IBD is supported by mechanistic rationale and early clinical evidence, but is not yet standard of care. Its use is more justified by emerging scientific validation than by tradition or anecdote.

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