The pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is thought to be due to a combination of genetic, environmental and immunological factors. From a clinical stand point, there is great interest in determining if manipulation of the gut microbiota may be a viable therapeutic strategy in IBD patients. One such strategy involves the use of prebiotic. Prebiotics are oligosaccharides that cannot be enzymatically hydrolyzed in the small intestine, however serve as substrates for fermentation by commensal bacteria in the colon.~Investigators propose to evaluate the modulatory effects of the prebiotic inulin on the composition and function of the microbiota of children with IBD and determine the efficacy of this dietary intervention in reducing disease activity.
The purpose of this study is to see how the prebiotic inulin changes the gut bacteria (microbiome) of children and young adults with IBD and determine if this dietary intervention can help reduce disease activity.