The Cranberry Study

The goal of this study is to find out if taking a cranberry supplement (which contains natural plant compounds called polyphenols, a group of naturally occurring plant compounds that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and fiber can help improve gut health in people with Crohn’s disease.

 Who Can Join This Study?

• Adults between 18 and 65 years old who have been diagnosed with active Crohn’s disease (measured by a score called sCDAI under 450.)
• Patients with poor quality of life due to Crohn’s disease (measure by a score called sIBDQ under 60.)
• Patients with stable medications for Crohn’s:
• Thiopurines, natalizumab, or methotrexate: used for at least 12 weeks.
• Anti-TNF medications, ustekinumab, or vedolizumab: used for at least 8 weeks.
• 5-ASA: used for at least 2 weeks.
• Steroids: stable dose for at least 1 week.
• Patients willing and able to take a cranberry supplement daily as part of the study.
• Patients willing and able to follow study instructions, provide samples, and complete all study activities which includes:
• Patients who can read and sign a consent form agreeing to join the study.
• Patients must live in Massachusetts, USA.

Who Cannot Join This Study?

• Patients with a stoma (ostomy).
• Patients who have a blocked or narrowed part of the intestine causing symptoms or had a blockage in the last 6 months.
• Patients who are pregnant.
• Patients who have followed a Specific Carbohydrate Diet or IBD-AID diet in the last 4 weeks.
• Patients who have taken probiotics or antibiotics in the last 4 weeks.
• Patients taking more than 20 mg of prednisone (or similar steroid).
• Patients who have had a recent infection with C. difficile (a type of bacteria that causes diarrhea).
• Patients who are incarcerated.

Timeline: This is a 15 weeks and is broken into three parts:

1. Baseline period (1 week): This is the starting point, where we collect initial information before the intervention starts.
2. Intervention period (10 weeks): Patients will be asked to take a daily dose of the cranberry supplement.
3. Follow-up period (4 weeks): After the intervention period ends, we will continue to check on your health.

Study Activities-In each study period we will monitor:

1. Changes in your gut bacteria by collecting stool samples.
2. Inflammatory markers in patient’s blood,
3. Cranberry intake in patients’ urine.
4. Disease activity, quality of life, and dietary intake using online surveys.