How the structure and composition of natural and synthetic environmental elements may increase risk factors for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Abstract

By Adriana Sistig, Biology, Neuroscience

Advisor: Richard Blumberg

Presentation ID: AM_D09

Abstract: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term used for the inflammation of the colon and small intestine. Chron's disease has the capabilities to affect the mouth, large intestine stomach esophagus and anus, as well as the colon and small intestine, while ulcerative colitis is mainly an inflammation of the colon and rectum. Both disease are the main disorders associated with inflammatory bowel disease. Inflammatory bowel disease is a complicated disease in that it is affected by multiple factors both environmental and genetic. Diet is an important factor in inflammatory bowel disease because it can either lower or decrease chances of contracting inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. It was shown through studies that an increase in sucrose in diet correlated with an increase in the amount of patients who acquired Chron's disease, while an increase in fiber correlated to a decrease in Chron's disease. The reason for which this study is so important is that there is great need to understand and identify the structure and composition of the natural and synthetic environmental elements that maybe major risk factors for disease pathogenesis.