What Is Crohn's
It's known to alternate between periods of flare-ups and remission, causing an array of symptoms, and is categorized as an autoimmune disorder.
Crohn's is not considered a rare disease, as there are hundreds of thousands of people around the world living with it. It's more common in Westernized countries and areas that have adopted the Western diet and lifestyle habits.
While it's a chronic condition that ebbs and flows, there are effective ways to manage it, optimize your gastrointestinal health, and keep symptoms as minimal as possible.
What Causes Crohn's
There's no one single cause of Crohn's disease, and how it develops isn't fully understood. The autoimmune aspect indicates that flare-ups are a result of your immune system mistakenly attacking its own body.
But as with most autoimmune conditions, Crohn's is thought to be a combination of factors—such as having a genetic predisposition, certain environmental exposures, and lifestyle habits.
More specifically, Crohn's can be seen as a breakdown in the relationship between the gut microbiome, intestinal barrier integrity, and immune regulation, putting individuals at higher risk who have dysbiosis, intestinal permeability, or food sensitivities (particularly to wheat, dairy, and yeast, which sustain the inflammatory cycle if they continue to be consumed).
Sometimes a perfect storm of these factors triggers this misguided immune response.
Who Is At Risk
Anyone can develop Crohn’s disease, but some individuals may have more risk factors than others, such as those who (UK IBD Genetics Consortium, 2021):
Have a family history of Crohn’s, as more than 70 genes are thought to be involved
Smoke (doubles the risk)
Chronically use NSAIDs or antibiotics
Are of Ashkenazi Jewish descent
Most diagnoses of Crohn’s are made among people between 15-30 years old and 40-60 years old (Tian et al., 2025).
What Are The Symptoms
Crohn’s disease symptoms predominantly affect the gastrointestinal tract, but can include (Tian et al., 2025):
Unexplained fatigue
Unintentional weight loss
Abdominal pain
Vomiting
Changes in bowel habits, particularly an onset of diarrhea
Symptoms can vary depending on the person and the severity of the disease, but they typically follow a chronic and progressive course.
Because Crohn's symptoms are often nonspecific, diagnosis is sometimes delayed, which is why it's worth seeking further investigation if they persist.
How Is Crohn's Diagnosed
Most people who are diagnosed with Crohn’s initially see their provider for the symptoms listed above that require further investigation, and often a referral to a gastroenterologist.
Commonly used diagnostic tools for Crohn’s, beyond a physical exam, include:
Blood tests, to check for inflammatory markers or anemia
Stool tests, to check for unusual bacteria or parasites
Imaging, such as a CT scan or MRI
Endoscopy, to identify areas of inflammation, which often includes a biopsy (tissue sample) from areas of concern
Although genetic testing is promising for Crohn’s, it’s primarily used for research versus clinical practice at this time.
How Is Crohn's Treated With Regenerative Therapies
Conventional management of Crohn's relies on immunosuppressants, biologics, corticosteroids, and eventually surgery to suppress inflammation.
While these approaches have an important place, they primarily manage symptoms rather than address the underlying causes—and over time, some people lose response to biologics, develop significant side effects, or find themselves cycling through stronger interventions.
This is where regenerative and integrative therapies are gaining meaningful traction, intended to be supportive, not replacements, of conventional treatments.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)
Platelet-rich plasma is derived from one’s own blood and concentrated to deliver a high dose of platelets and growth factors directly to damaged tissues.
When used for Crohn's, PRP is being explored for its potential to support the repair of intestinal tissues, reduce inflammation, and promote healing (Mazzaro et al., 2024).
Fecal Microbiota Transplant (FMT)
Given that dysbiosis is a central driver of Crohn's, restoring a healthy microbial environment is a logical therapeutic target. FMT involves transferring stool from a healthy donor to reestablish a balanced gut microbiome and, while it definitely sounds unconventional, has shown early promise.
A pilot randomized controlled trial found that FMT achieved 87.5% steroid-free remission at 10 weeks, compared to 44.4% for a sham procedure, with higher donor microbiome colonization linked to sustained remission (Sokol et al., 2020).
Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC) Therapy
MSC therapy is one of the most researched regenerative approaches for Crohn's, showing the ability to alter immune responses and support tissue repair instead of just suppressing inflammation.
A multicenter cohort study confirmed that stem cell transplantation reduces disease activity and maintains high remission rates over a 3 to 24 month window (Bacsur et al., 2025).
More recently, a 2025 meta-analysis of 25 studies found that MSC-based therapies achieved 58% combined remission at 6 months for refractory perianal fistulizing Crohn's, which has limited traditional options (Guillo et al., 2025).
Exosomes
Exosomes are tiny vesicles secreted by cells that carry proteins, fats, and genetic material and play a key role in cell-to-cell communication.
Evidence is still in the early stage, but emerging research suggests that exosome-based therapies, such as those derived from garlic, may reduce intestinal inflammation and scarring associated with Crohn’s disease, and support repair similar to how stem cell therapy works. (Zhu et al., 2026).
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)
HBOT involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized environment to boost oxygen delivery to inflamed and damaged tissue.
A randomized controlled trial found that HBOT reduces inflammatory markers and disease activity in Crohn's by changing the gut microbiota, increasing friendly Bifidobacterium while decreasing pro-inflammatory Escherichia (Li et al., 2024).
Plant-Diverse Diet Pattern
Nutritional status is critical, and nutrient stores are often depleted in Crohn's, which affects immune function, gut microbiome balance, and intestinal integrity.
Common deficiencies include vitamins D and B12, selenium, folate, zinc, and iron, which impair immune regulation and tissue repair when left unaddressed (Jamal et al., 2025).
Diet composition also matters. Eating a diet rich in plant diversity is the best way to ensure adequate fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Aim to get a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and legumes, while avoiding ultra-processed, inflammatory foods that often make up the Western diet.
Additionally, identifying food allergies and triggers through elimination protocols, with the guidance of a registered dietitian, can be effective for many, helping maintain remission for years.
Exclusive Enteral Nutrition (EEN) Therapy
Enteral nutrition involves replacing all solid food intake with a nutritionally complete liquid formula for a temporary period. It may utilize a tube that goes directly to the GI tract or be taken orally as a drink.
While not commonly used for Crohn’s management, it’s one of the most evidence-backed options.
A meta-analysis of 8 studies found EEN to be as effective as corticosteroids for inducing remission in pediatric Crohn's, with the significant added benefit of repairing intestinal lining (Swaminath et al., 2017).
Overall, these types of interventions may support Crohn’s recovery, manage symptoms, or help address root causes alongside traditional medical care. Still, these therapies aren't risk-free and can have side effects.
What Are Possible Complications
If Crohn’s disease isn’t properly diagnosed, goes untreated, or is otherwise poorly managed, complications are more likely, which can negatively impact quality of life.
Some of these include:
Bowel obstruction: Blockages can occur from severely inflamed intestinal walls, buildups of scar tissue called strictures, or adhesions that cause organs and tissues to bind together.
Fistulas: These are abnormal connections between the intestines and other body parts, caused by ulcers that penetrate the wall of the GI tract. For instance, fistulas may occur from the bowel to the vagina, bladder, or skin, dumping digestive contents into these areas that can eventually become infections.
Anal fissure: This is a small tear at the anus that can cause pain and bleeding when having a bowel movement and may require medical or surgical intervention.
Malnutrition: Chronic bowel inflammation can make it harder for your body to absorb nutrients over time. Common nutrient deficiencies in Crohn’s include vitamins D and B12, magnesium, folate, zinc, iron, and essential fatty acids. Malnutrition can affect immune function, mental health, bone density, kidney health, and tissue repair processes.
Arthritis: Prolonged inflammation in Crohn’s can trigger a type of arthritis called peripheral arthritis, which usually causes swelling and pain in the knees and elbows.
Colon cancer: The risk of colon cancer is higher among individuals with Crohn’s because ongoing inflammation leads to a constant turnover of cells in your intestinal lining (Laredo et al., 2023).
A population-based cohort study found that approximately 50% of individuals with Crohn’s developed a significant intestinal complication within 20 years of their diagnosis (Thia et al., 2010).
Can Crohn's Be Prevented
There's no foolproof guarantee that we can prevent Crohn's disease, and things like genetic predispositions are out of our control.
However, there are evidence-based steps we can take to reduce risk, with a heavy emphasis on everyday lifestyle habits (Lopes et al., 2022).
Regular moderate exercise, a diet rich in colorful fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, fiber, and healthy fats, and managing stress through practices like meditation, journaling, or yoga—alongside adequate sleep of 7–9 hours per night—are all critical for gut and overall well-being (Protano et al., 2026).
Interestingly, exposure to breastmilk as an infant may also play a role in resilience against developing Crohn's later in life, likely because of the way it shapes the gut microbiome (Kurahara et al., 2025).
Takeaway
Crohn's disease is a common inflammatory bowel disease deeply rooted in the gut microbiome and influenced by factors like genetics, environmental exposures, and lifestyle habits.
A diagnosis isn't a ceiling; it's a starting point for understanding what's driving the condition and what can be done about it.
With the right combination of conventional, regenerative, and lifestyle approaches, meaningful improvement is within reach for many people living with Crohn's.
