Can Prebiotics Help Treat IBD? Navigating the Research and Food Choices
Published on February 6, 2026
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Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an umbrella term for conditions that cause inflammation in the digestive tract, leading to tissue damage. The most common types are ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease. They affect different parts of the digestive system but can have symptom overlap. Another thing that all forms of IBD have in common? Gut dysbiosis.
The term “dysbiosis” refers to an imbalance in the gut microbiome, the bacteria populating your gastrointestinal (GI) system, in which potentially harmful bacteria may be outnumbering beneficial bacteria. That can lead to digestive issues for anyone, but for those with IBD, it can be particularly problematic, says Ashkan Farhadi, MD, a gastroenterologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California.
“When the gut is affected in this way, it causes even more inflammation, and that can lead to flares,” he says. “The longer this continues, the more it may weaken the gut barrier and cause challenges, including further damage.”
That’s why managing IBD is so crucial. IBD treatment typically includes both medication and dietary adjustments, he says. Some doctors recommend people with IBD focus on eating foods that will support a healthy microbiome, including prebiotic-rich foods. Prebiotics are substances in food that our GI tract can’t digest; they include dietary fibers, carbohydrates, and other compounds that feed the growth of beneficial bacteria.
Here’s what you need to know about prebiotics if you’re navigating IBD management.
Why Prebiotics Matter in IBD
Robust gut function is important for everyone. Maintaining gut health is linked to more efficient regulation in the body, including in the digestive, endocrine, nervous, and immune systems. In IBD, altered microbiome function due to dysbiosis is known to affect more than GI health; research has also linked it to conditions like obesity, depression, and anxiety.
Prebiotics are associated with better gut health, which is why they may be helpful for those with IBD, says Dr. Farhadi. Not only do prebiotics selectively feed good bacteria, they also ferment (digest) prebiotic substances, including their main source: dietary fibers known as microbiota accessible carbohydrates (MACs), says Ashley Baumohl, RD, a registered dietitian in the division of gastroenterology at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
Because MACs aren’t digestible, they move through the digestive tract intact until they arrive at the colon. It’s there that the fermentation process occurs to break them down. Short-chain fatty acids, like butyrate, are produced as a by-product of fermentation, says Baumohl. These compounds are essential for providing energy to colon cells. They also reduce inflammation and regulate gut barrier function.
“These by-products help strengthen the lining of the intestines, which can be protective against infections and pathogens,” she says. “That intestinal lining is a major defense mechanism for the immune system.”
If a diet is low in fiber, the protective lining of the intestines becomes thinner, which could put people at risk of infections and flares.
The Top IBD-Friendly Prebiotic Sources
Some common prebiotic sources are healthy whole foods that are also considered high in FODMAPs (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols), which people with IBD often limit or avoid during flares.
“These are short-chain carbohydrates that the small intestine doesn’t absorb well,” says Pratima Dibba, MD, a gastroenterologist with the Medical Offices of Manhattan in New York City. “By eating low-FODMAP foods, people may feel less gas and bloating.”
Foods that fit into the low-FODMAP framework and are also high in prebiotics include:
Prebiotic Source Type
Examples
IBD Consideration
Grains
Oats, rice, quinoa
When well cooked, the soluble fiber from these grains is generally well tolerated with IBD.
Fruits
Unripe bananas, kiwi, grapes, oranges
While ripe bananas are high in FODMAPs, green ones are lower.
Vegetables
Bell peppers, carrots, eggplant, sweet potato, corn, leafy greens
These are good sources of soluble fiber prebiotics for IBD.
Nuts and Seeds
Chia, flax, walnuts
These all have dietary fiber, but consume small servings to prevent discomfort.
Potential Health Benefits and Risks of Prebiotics for IBD
At this point, research is promising about the potential effects of prebiotics for IBD, but there isn’t enough data yet — especially in humans — to link increased use to definite benefits, says Dr. Dibba.
“What we have now is not sufficient enough to prove that prebiotics are associated with specific treatment of gastrointestinal illnesses,” she says. “However, when those prebiotics are obtained from whole foods like fruits, vegetables, and legumes, this can promote overall health and increase intake of vitamins and minerals, which can help with digestion and bowel regularity.”
Potential Health Benefits
Preliminary research shows some promising results: One research review notes that in studies on animals, prebiotics lessened the severity and symptoms of a UC-like disease. In small studies with humans, one showed a change in the microbiome’s makeup, and another found that participants’ inflammation markers and symptoms were reduced. But the authors also write that, while measurements of disease activity and relapse rates might decrease with the use of prebiotics, the high number of participants who withdrew from supplementation studies indicates that the side effects may not be tolerable for some people.
“Further research is needed, but we do know that when focusing on an approach like the Mediterranean diet, which includes some prebiotics, it has the potential to help those with IBD,” says Dibba.
Potential Health Risks
Research suggests that higher intake of dietary fiber is connected to a significantly lower risk of flares in Crohn’s. But some types of fiber can cause temporary discomfort, says Baumohl. That’s because not all dietary fibers are tolerated equally.
“Certain prebiotics found in foods like garlic, onions, beans, and wheat are broken down very quickly by bacteria,” she says. “This rapid breakdown can produce significant gas and bloating. However, this is not a sign your IBD is getting worse; it’s just an indication that your gut is working hard to process those specific foods. There are strategies for introducing these foods into your diet while minimizing discomfort.”
Some preliminary research, however, including a small trial with 18 healthy people and a separate study on mice with an animal model of IBD, has found that the prebiotic fiber inulin can trigger inflammation. The mice with IBD-like illness experienced inflammation in their intestines when given inulin, while the human study participants had inflammation throughout their bodies — except for one participant who experienced a reduction in overall inflammation. Further research on human tissue, blood, and stool samples suggests an inflammatory process similar to what the mice experienced is primed in people with IBD, and dietary inulin could worsen the illness.
Inulin is sold in supplement form as a prebiotic. It’s also commonly added to foods and drinks as a prebiotic fiber, or as a replacement for fat or sugar. It’s in products as varied as soy-based drinks, instant coffee, baked goods, pasta, snack bars, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, and meats, so read nutrition labels closely if you opt to avoid it.
How to Add Prebiotics to Your IBD Diet
Although the potential benefits of prebiotics can spark enthusiasm, it’s important to add them to your diet using a measured approach to prevent issues like bloating and gas, says Baumohl. She suggests these steps:
- Start low and go slow. Add prebiotic-rich sources gradually over time, so you can understand which foods might cause GI symptoms.
- Begin when you’re in remission. During a flare, it’s likely your gastroenterologist will suggest a low-fiber diet to make digestion easier.
- Start with soluble fiber. Focusing on IBD-friendly sources of dietary fiber, like ground flaxseed or oatmeal, can help you add prebiotics without increasing GI distress, says Baumohl.
- Cook foods thoroughly. Raw foods, even those high in prebiotics, are not advisable with IBD, says Farhadi.
- Keep track of effects. Maintaining a food diary that lists the effects of different foods can be helpful, including notes on sleep quality, mood, and energy levels.
“Keep in mind that adding prebiotic-rich foods, even when you add them with probiotic foods, won’t be a replacement for IBD treatment,” says Farhadi. “However, there can be some benefits when used as a complementary approach.”
The Takeaway
- Prebiotic foods may help support gut bacteria (the microbiome) and potentially reduce IBD symptoms, particularly when used in combination with medication.
- While prebiotics have shown promise in preliminary research, there’s not enough data yet to recommend them for IBD.
- Adding prebiotic foods should be done slowly over time to prevent common issues like gas and bloating.
Resources We Trust
- Mayo Clinic: What Are Probiotics and Prebiotics?
- Cleveland Clinic: Gut Microbiome
- UMass Chan Medical School: Prebiotics: What, Where, and How to Get Them
- Brown University Health: The Importance of Prebiotics
- UMass Chan Medical School: 10 Best Prebiotic Foods for IBD
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
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Meet Our Experts
Rabia de Latour, MD
Medical Reviewer
Rabia de Latour, MD, is a therapeutic endoscopist and gastroenterologist at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, where she serves as the director of endoscopy and chief sustainability officer at Bellevue Hospital. She is the host of Sirius XM Doctor Radio Internal Medicine Show.
Elizabeth Millard
Author
Elizabeth Millard is a Minnesota-based freelance health writer. Her work has appeared in national outlets and medical institutions including Time, Women‘s Health, Self, Runner‘s World, Prevention, and more. She is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher, and is trained in obesity management.