Inflammatory bowel disease on the rise worldwide

CALGARY – A painful and debilitating disease that is often difficult to talk about is on the rise worldwide.

Researchers have discovered an increase in cases of inflammatory bowel disease or IBD; Canada has one of the highest rates across the globe.

Calgary researcher Dr. Gil Gaplan has found that IBD is highest in industrialized countries; there are theories that hygiene practices prevent bodies from building the immunity needed to fight off bacteria or that the disease may stem from a deficiency of vitamin D.

Dr. Galpan says the more that can be learned about IBD, the closer we will get to better treatments.

“This is a disease that is diagnosed in young individuals at the prime of their life and rather than focusing on their education, their careers, their personal life, they’re stricken with the disease that has debilitating symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal pain, bleeding, and their focus shouldn’t be on managing these symptoms.”

Most IBD patients are diagnosed between 20 and 40 years of age.

Kaplan’s research was funded by Alberta Innovates Health Solutions. His findings have been published in the January issue of the Journal Gastroenterology.

IBD is also prevalent in European countries while rates are now rising in countries like China and India.

To learn more about Dr. Kaplan’s research and the Alberta IBD Consortium, visit albertaibdconsortium.ca.