News Release

Curcumin, oxygen chambers and Apple watches: the future of IBD care

New inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) research presented at this year’s Crohn’s & Colitis Congress®

Meeting Announcement

American Gastroenterological Association

Denver, CO (Jan. 19, 2023) — The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation and the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) are proud to host the sixth annual Crohn’s & Colitis Congress®, Jan. 19-21, 2023, in Denver, Colorado. During the premier inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) meeting, we’ll review the latest advancements in IBD patient care to improve the lives of the millions of Americans living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

This year’s meeting features exciting research on advances in alternative treatments and diagnostics. Below is a summary of top studies being presented at the Crohn’s & Colitis Congress. To speak with the study authors or review all abstracts being presented, email media@gastro.org.

Plant-based therapy induces remission in active ulcerative colitis
Study title: Curcumin-qingdai combination for patients with active ulcerative colitis: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial

Presented by Shomron Ben-Horin, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer

Significance: In this multi-center-controlled trial, treatment with a combination of the herbal compounds curcumin and QingDai (QD, Indigo) (CurQD) was significantly better than placebo to induce clinical response and remission by week eight in patients with active ulcerative colitis. Treatment with curcumin alone for an additional eight weeks maintained the response in most patients and no new safety signals have emerged. These data suggest CurQD as a potential plant-based nutraceutical therapy for patients with active ulcerative colitis.

Oxygen chambers aid in effective treatment for Crohn’s disease
Study title: Efficacy and safety of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in fistulizing Crohn’s disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Presented by Amr Dokmak, Hospital Medicine, Catholic Medical Center

Significance: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy delivers 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber to increase tissue oxygen levels and regulate inflammatory pathways. This review found adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy to be a safe and effective treatment option for fistulizing Crohn’s disease with an overall clinical response rate of 87% and low adverse event rate.

Apple Watches identify IBD flareups
Study title: Physiological metrics collected from wearable devices identify inflammatory and clinical inflammatory bowel disease flares

Presented by Robert Hirten, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Significance: Identifying and predicting flares of chronic diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, are challenging. This new research found that markers of nervous system function collected from commonly used wearable devices, such as the Apple Watch, can identify IBD flares. This includes both the development of symptoms and inflammation. Wearable devices may provide a convenient non-invasive way to monitor disease activity and identify, and potentially predict, IBD flares, which would significantly improve disease management.

Additional abstracts you may be interested in covering:

  • Promising drug study: A phase II open label study of neihulizumab, an anti-cd162 (psgl-1) antibody, in patients with moderate to severe active, anti-tnfî± and/or anti-integrin refractory ulcerative colitis
  • Potential treatment for fatigue: Preliminary evidence for a relationship between heart rate variability and fatigue in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
  • To review these abstracts or see the full abstract book, email media@gastro.org.  

All abstracts presented at the meeting will be published in online supplements to Gastroenterology and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. All data presented at Crohn’s & Colitis Congress is embargoed until the start of the Congress, 9 a.m. MST on Thursday, January 19, 2023.

Learn more about IBD: 

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Media contacts:
Courtney Reed, media@gastro.org, 301-272-0025
Michelle Lampariello, mlampariello@crohnscolitisfoundation.org

About the Crohn’s & Colitis Congress®

The Crohn’s & Colitis Congress®, taking place virtually Jan. 19-21, 2023, combines the strengths of the nation’s leading IBD patient organization, Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, and the premier GI professional association, American Gastroenterological Association (AGA). Together we are committed to convening the greatest minds in IBD to transform patient care. The Crohn’s & Colitis Congress is the must-attend meeting for all IBD professionals. Learn more at crohnscolitiscongress.org.

About the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation

The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation is the leading non-profit organization focused on both research and patient support for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The Foundation’s mission is to cure Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and to improve the quality of life for the millions of Americans living with IBD. Our work is dramatically accelerating the research process through our database and investment initiatives; we also provide extensive educational resources for patients and their families, medical professionals, and the public. For more information, visit www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org, call 888-694-8872, or email info@crohnscolitisfoundation.org.

For daily IBD updates, follow the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

About the AGA Institute 

The American Gastroenterological Association is the trusted voice of the GI community. Founded in 1897, AGA has grown to more than 16,000 members from around the globe who are involved in all aspects of the science, practice and advancement of gastroenterology. The AGA Institute administers the practice, research and educational programs of the organization. www.gastro.org.

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