Fruits, vegetables, legumes and potatoes and risk of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

Antoine Meyer; Franck Carbonnel; Christina C. Dahm; Jytte Halkjær; Anne Tjønneland; Matthias B. Schulze; Carlotta Sacerdote; Rosario Tumino; Bas Oldenburg; José M. Huerta; Marcela Guevara; Dagfinn Aune; Marc J. Gunter; Alicia K. Heath; Paolo Vineis; Tammy Y.N. Tong; Aurélien Amiot; Simon S.M. Chan

doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000003602

Fruits, vegetables, legumes and potatoes and risk of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

Antoine Meyer, Franck Carbonnel, Christina C. Dahm, Jytte Halkjær, Anne Tjønneland, Matthias B. Schulze, Carlotta Sacerdote, Rosario Tumino, Bas Oldenburg, José M. Huerta, Marcela Guevara, Dagfinn Aune, Marc J. Gunter, Alicia K. Heath, Paolo Vineis, Tammy Y.N. Tong, Aurélien Amiot, Simon S.M. Chan

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Objectives: Low intake of fiber, fruits and vegetables is associated with the risk of developing Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). We therefore aimed to assess the risk of developing CD and UC according to individual fruits, vegetables, legumes, and potatoes and their diversity in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort.

Methods: Validated food frequency questionnaires collected at baseline were used to assess fruits, vegetables, legumes, and potatoes intakes. The association between these foods and CD and UC risks were estimated using Cox models stratified by center, sex and age; and adjusted for smoking status, BMI, physical activity, energy intake, educational level and alcohol intake.

Results: 341,519 individuals were followed prospectively. Among them, 149 developed CD and 379 developed UC after a median follow-up of 13.4 years. High intake of combined fruits, vegetables, legumes, and potatoes were associated with a lower risk of CD (fourth vs first quartile adjusted HR=0.44, 95%CI: 0.26-0.76; p-trend<0.01) but not UC (aHR=1.07, 95%CI: 0.76-1.50; p-trend=0.73). Pooled consumption of apple/pear, banana, mushrooms, and onion/garlic was associated with a lower risk of CD (fourth vs first quartile aHR 0.58; 95%CI: 0.33-1.02, p-trend 0.03). A higher risk of UC was observed with high intakes of potatoes (fourth vs first quartile aHR 1.51; 95%CI: 1.05-2.17). Fruits/Vegetables/Legumes/Potatoes diversity score was not associated with risk of CD nor of UC.

Conclusions: High apple/pear, banana, mushrooms, and onion/garlic intake is associated with a lower risk of developing CD whereas high intake of potatoes is associated with UC.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-12
Number of pages	12
Journal	American Journal of Gastroenterology
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.14309/ajg.0000000000003602
Publication status	Published - 24 Jun 2025
Externally published	Yes

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Crohn's disease
diet
fruits
inflammatory bowel disease
vegetables

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10.14309/ajg.0000000000003602

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Meyer, A., Carbonnel, F., Dahm, C. C., Halkjær, J., Tjønneland, A., Schulze, M. B., Sacerdote, C., Tumino, R., Oldenburg, B., Huerta, J. M., Guevara, M., Aune, D., Gunter, M. J., Heath, A. K., Vineis, P., Tong, T. Y. N., Amiot, A., & Chan, S. S. M. (2025). Fruits, vegetables, legumes and potatoes and risk of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. American Journal of Gastroenterology, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.14309/ajg.0000000000003602

@article{8d834224c7e145eebe8866f3230a198b,

title = "Fruits, vegetables, legumes and potatoes and risk of Crohn{\textquoteright}s disease and ulcerative colitis",

abstract = "Objectives: Low intake of fiber, fruits and vegetables is associated with the risk of developing Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). We therefore aimed to assess the risk of developing CD and UC according to individual fruits, vegetables, legumes, and potatoes and their diversity in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort. Methods: Validated food frequency questionnaires collected at baseline were used to assess fruits, vegetables, legumes, and potatoes intakes. The association between these foods and CD and UC risks were estimated using Cox models stratified by center, sex and age; and adjusted for smoking status, BMI, physical activity, energy intake, educational level and alcohol intake. Results: 341,519 individuals were followed prospectively. Among them, 149 developed CD and 379 developed UC after a median follow-up of 13.4 years. High intake of combined fruits, vegetables, legumes, and potatoes were associated with a lower risk of CD (fourth vs first quartile adjusted HR=0.44, 95%CI: 0.26-0.76; p-trend<0.01) but not UC (aHR=1.07, 95%CI: 0.76-1.50; p-trend=0.73). Pooled consumption of apple/pear, banana, mushrooms, and onion/garlic was associated with a lower risk of CD (fourth vs first quartile aHR 0.58; 95%CI: 0.33-1.02, p-trend 0.03). A higher risk of UC was observed with high intakes of potatoes (fourth vs first quartile aHR 1.51; 95%CI: 1.05-2.17). Fruits/Vegetables/Legumes/Potatoes diversity score was not associated with risk of CD nor of UC. Conclusions: High apple/pear, banana, mushrooms, and onion/garlic intake is associated with a lower risk of developing CD whereas high intake of potatoes is associated with UC.",

keywords = "Crohn's disease, diet, fruits, inflammatory bowel disease, vegetables",

author = "Antoine Meyer and Franck Carbonnel and Dahm, {Christina C.} and Jytte Halkj{\ae}r and Anne Tj{\o}nneland and Schulze, {Matthias B.} and Carlotta Sacerdote and Rosario Tumino and Bas Oldenburg and Huerta, {Jos{\'e} M.} and Marcela Guevara and Dagfinn Aune and Gunter, {Marc J.} and Heath, {Alicia K.} and Paolo Vineis and Tong, {Tammy Y.N.} and Aur{\'e}lien Amiot and Chan, {Simon S.M.}",

note = "We thank the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands, for their contribution and ongoing support to the EPIC Study.",

year = "2025",

month = jun,

day = "24",

doi = "10.14309/ajg.0000000000003602",

language = "English",

pages = "1--12",

journal = "American Journal of Gastroenterology",

issn = "0002-9270",

publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",

}

Meyer, A, Carbonnel, F, Dahm, CC, Halkjær, J, Tjønneland, A, Schulze, MB, Sacerdote, C, Tumino, R, Oldenburg, B, Huerta, JM, Guevara, M, Aune, D, Gunter, MJ, Heath, AK, Vineis, P, Tong, TYN, Amiot, A & Chan, SSM 2025, 'Fruits, vegetables, legumes and potatoes and risk of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis', American Journal of Gastroenterology, pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.14309/ajg.0000000000003602

TY - JOUR

T1 - Fruits, vegetables, legumes and potatoes and risk of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

AU - Meyer, Antoine

AU - Carbonnel, Franck

AU - Dahm, Christina C.

AU - Halkjær, Jytte

AU - Tjønneland, Anne

AU - Schulze, Matthias B.

AU - Sacerdote, Carlotta

AU - Tumino, Rosario

AU - Oldenburg, Bas

AU - Huerta, José M.

AU - Guevara, Marcela

AU - Aune, Dagfinn

AU - Gunter, Marc J.

AU - Heath, Alicia K.

AU - Vineis, Paolo

AU - Tong, Tammy Y.N.

AU - Amiot, Aurélien

AU - Chan, Simon S.M.

N1 - We thank the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands, for their contribution and ongoing support to the EPIC Study.

PY - 2025/6/24

Y1 - 2025/6/24

N2 - Objectives: Low intake of fiber, fruits and vegetables is associated with the risk of developing Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). We therefore aimed to assess the risk of developing CD and UC according to individual fruits, vegetables, legumes, and potatoes and their diversity in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort. Methods: Validated food frequency questionnaires collected at baseline were used to assess fruits, vegetables, legumes, and potatoes intakes. The association between these foods and CD and UC risks were estimated using Cox models stratified by center, sex and age; and adjusted for smoking status, BMI, physical activity, energy intake, educational level and alcohol intake. Results: 341,519 individuals were followed prospectively. Among them, 149 developed CD and 379 developed UC after a median follow-up of 13.4 years. High intake of combined fruits, vegetables, legumes, and potatoes were associated with a lower risk of CD (fourth vs first quartile adjusted HR=0.44, 95%CI: 0.26-0.76; p-trend<0.01) but not UC (aHR=1.07, 95%CI: 0.76-1.50; p-trend=0.73). Pooled consumption of apple/pear, banana, mushrooms, and onion/garlic was associated with a lower risk of CD (fourth vs first quartile aHR 0.58; 95%CI: 0.33-1.02, p-trend 0.03). A higher risk of UC was observed with high intakes of potatoes (fourth vs first quartile aHR 1.51; 95%CI: 1.05-2.17). Fruits/Vegetables/Legumes/Potatoes diversity score was not associated with risk of CD nor of UC. Conclusions: High apple/pear, banana, mushrooms, and onion/garlic intake is associated with a lower risk of developing CD whereas high intake of potatoes is associated with UC.

AB - Objectives: Low intake of fiber, fruits and vegetables is associated with the risk of developing Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). We therefore aimed to assess the risk of developing CD and UC according to individual fruits, vegetables, legumes, and potatoes and their diversity in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort. Methods: Validated food frequency questionnaires collected at baseline were used to assess fruits, vegetables, legumes, and potatoes intakes. The association between these foods and CD and UC risks were estimated using Cox models stratified by center, sex and age; and adjusted for smoking status, BMI, physical activity, energy intake, educational level and alcohol intake. Results: 341,519 individuals were followed prospectively. Among them, 149 developed CD and 379 developed UC after a median follow-up of 13.4 years. High intake of combined fruits, vegetables, legumes, and potatoes were associated with a lower risk of CD (fourth vs first quartile adjusted HR=0.44, 95%CI: 0.26-0.76; p-trend<0.01) but not UC (aHR=1.07, 95%CI: 0.76-1.50; p-trend=0.73). Pooled consumption of apple/pear, banana, mushrooms, and onion/garlic was associated with a lower risk of CD (fourth vs first quartile aHR 0.58; 95%CI: 0.33-1.02, p-trend 0.03). A higher risk of UC was observed with high intakes of potatoes (fourth vs first quartile aHR 1.51; 95%CI: 1.05-2.17). Fruits/Vegetables/Legumes/Potatoes diversity score was not associated with risk of CD nor of UC. Conclusions: High apple/pear, banana, mushrooms, and onion/garlic intake is associated with a lower risk of developing CD whereas high intake of potatoes is associated with UC.

KW - Crohn's disease

KW - diet

KW - fruits

KW - inflammatory bowel disease

KW - vegetables

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105011529525&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.14309/ajg.0000000000003602

DO - 10.14309/ajg.0000000000003602

M3 - Article

C2 - 40553119

AN - SCOPUS:105011529525

SN - 0002-9270

SP - 1

EP - 12

JO - American Journal of Gastroenterology

JF - American Journal of Gastroenterology

ER -

Fruits, vegetables, legumes and potatoes and risk of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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