The epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease: exploring the impacts of environmental factors.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review of environmental risk factors without systematic search or meta-analysis
PubMed 41340403 · doi:10.3904/kjim.2025.083
What was done
This narrative review synthesized literature on environmental risk factors associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) susceptibility. The authors reviewed evidence across domains including early-life factors, diet and nutrition, urbanization, air pollution, smoking, appendectomy, medications, psychological stress, sleep, and geographic latitude.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical data, effect sizes, or specific statistical findings. It highlights conceptually that rising global IBD incidence, along with evidence from immigrant and twin studies, demonstrates a major role for environmental exposures interacting with genetic susceptibility.
Why it matters
Synthesizing non-genetic factors helps map modifiable lifestyle and environmental targets that could inform prevention strategies as IBD incidence rises worldwide.
Limits
The abstract reflects a non-systematic narrative review with no defined search protocol, study selection criteria, or formal risk-of-bias evaluation. No quantitative data or sample sizes are reported in the abstract.
Cited by
- contradicts Ulcerative colitis is completely food-related.