Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronic immune – mediated disorder with gut inflammation. In recent 30 years, its global incidence has risen, especially in high – income areas. IBD pathogenesis involves genetic, environmental, microbiome, and immune factors. Modifiable lifestyle and environmental factors like diet, exercise, and smoking affect IBD onset and progression.!
Research has explored mechanisms. Endurance training reduces IBD – related genetic risk transcripts, e.g., in major histocompatibility complex class II. Smoking causes DNA methylation in genes (DNMT3A, AHRR), increasing CD risk. Antibiotic – induced dysbiosis links to CD, and the Mediterranean diet associates with lower fecal calprotectin. New research on gut – brain/liver axes shows IBD connections to neuropsychiatric/hepatic conditions, and IBD comorbidities with other chronic inflammatory diseases are increasingly known.!
However, long – term population – based studies on modifiable risk factors and IBD are scarce. Using UK Biobank’s longitudinal data (clinical, environmental, lifestyle, multi – omics), this project aims to clarify IBD clinical associations and uncover its onset and progression mechanisms.!
Objectives: (a) Identify modifiable lifestyle factors for IBD onset. (b) Evaluate their effect on disease outcomes and quality of life. (c) Study IBD comorbidity patterns with other chronic inflammatory diseases and shared determinants. (d) Integrate multi – omics data to explore IBD – related biological pathways.
