Treatment Response and Safety of Herbal Medicine Combined with a Low-Carbohydrate Diet for Weight Reduction in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Retrospective Multicenter Study

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of herbal medicine combined with a low-carbohydrate diet on weight loss and disease progression in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD).Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 14 IBD patients (12 UC, 2 CD) who received 60 days of herbal medicine in solid form (pills, tablets, and capsules) and followed a low-carbohydrate diet (50 g/day limit). Body weight and composition were measured before and after treatment, and adverse events were recorded to assess safety.Results: Mean body weight decreased significantly, from 73.00±18.25 kg to 67.98±16.09 kg (p<0.05), with an average weight loss of 6.88%. BMI decreased from 26.84±4.59 kg/m2 to 25.00±4.06 kg/m2. Body fat mass and body fat percentage were significantly reduced, indicating fat loss. Seven patients (50%) reported mild to moderate adverse events, including nausea, indigestion, abdominal pain, sleep disturbances, and headaches. Most patients showed stabilization or improvement in IBD symptoms, such as normalized bowel movements.Conclusion: Herbal medicine combined with a low-carbohydrate diet resulted in significant weight loss and positive effects on IBD symptoms, without serious side effects. Further studies are needed to validate these findings.