NEW global research has identified a strong association between intestinal microbiota dysbiosis and the rising worldwide burden of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The large-scale study, analysing data from 180 countries between 1990 and 2023, suggests that gut microbial imbalance may play a central role in the accelerating rates of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
Using data from the Global Burden of Disease database, researchers tracked major indicators including incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years. Over the three-decade period, IBD incidence increased from 12.3 to 25.6 cases per 100,000, prevalence rose from 396 to 523 per 100,000, and disability-adjusted life years increased from 230 to 380 per 100,000. Each metric showed a statistically significant annual growth trend, confirming IBD’s escalating global footprint.
To explore the microbial connection, the team assessed intestinal microbiota profiles from 20,000 individuals, including both healthy participants and IBD patients, across all regions studied. These data were supplemented with sequencing records from MGnify, the Human Microbiome Project, and GMrepo.
Microbiota Dysbiosis Strongly Associated with IBD Burden
The analysis revealed a striking correlation: regions with severe gut microbiota dysbiosis experienced an IBD incidence growth rate 3.2 times higher than regions with relatively balanced microbial ecosystems (β=3.2, 95% CI 2.8–3.6; P<0.001). According to the authors, dysbiosis “closely tracked” with worsening disease indicators across continents, supporting the hypothesis that microbial disruption contributes to IBD expansion.
Implications for Global Prevention and Future Research
The findings highlight gut microbiota imbalance as a potential predictive marker for rising IBD burden. The researchers suggest that surveillance of microbial disruption could help identify high-risk regions early, enabling targeted prevention efforts before disease rates escalate. They also note that interventions aimed at restoring microbial balance, such as dietary strategies, probiotics, or microbiome-directed therapeutics, may hold promise in reducing IBD risk on a population scale.
As IBD continues to spread in both high-income and rapidly industrialising regions, the study underscores the need for global strategies addressing environmental and microbial contributors to disease. The authors conclude that intestinal microbiota dysbiosis should be considered a key factor in shaping public-health policies and future treatment development.
Reference
Frontiers in Medicine. Association Study between Intestinal Microbiota Dysbiosis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease and the Global Disease Burden Growth Trend. 2025. Available at: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1635242/abstract?utm_source=chatgpt.com. Last accessed: 20 November 2025.
