Ostomy & IBD, plainly
Sourced explainers — slower and cited, not breaking news.
Which supplements actually have evidence in ulcerative colitis? What a 2026 network meta-analysis found — and what it didn't
People with ulcerative colitis often ask which supplement is worth trying. A 2026 network meta-analysis pooled 24 small trials of 14 different supplements; the headline is more careful than the headlines.
Read explainer →Latest
Sourced explainer
JAK inhibitors for moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis: what a 2026 meta-analysis found — and the long-term questions that remain
A May 2026 meta-analysis pooled 14 placebo-controlled trials of Janus kinase inhibitors in adults with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis. Short-term efficacy looked substantial across clinical and endoscopic measures; short-term safety mirrored placebo; the long-term safety questions stay open by the authors' own admission.
AI-guided decisions on a temporary ileostomy in rectal cancer surgery: what a 2026 randomized trial showed — and the caveat its authors put in plain sight
A May 2026 randomized controlled trial in Nature Communications tested a machine-learning tool, RTID, against surgeon discretion to decide whether patients undergoing rectal cancer surgery should also receive a temporary diverting ileostomy. The tool roughly halved the overall stoma rate without an apparent rise in anastomotic leaks — but the same trial was, by the authors' own admission, underpowered to formally prove safety equivalence, and that caveat belongs alongside the headline.
A new target on the horizon: a 2026 systematic review on anti-TL1A therapy for IBD
A May 2026 systematic review in the Journal of Crohn's & Colitis traces TL1A — a molecule the immune system uses to drive gut inflammation — from laboratory work into early clinical trials. It is not yet a treatment people can use. It is something worth knowing is being worked on.
Beyond bacteria: why researchers are now looking at gut viruses and fungi in IBD
A 2026 review argues the gut's viruses and fungi have been comparatively overlooked in inflammatory bowel disease. Here's what that does — and does not — mean for patients.
Practical living
Sourced explainer
Drinking against the bag: what a 2026 scoping review says about oral rehydration solutions and the ileostomy hydration problem
Staying hydrated with an ileostomy is harder than it looks, and plain water isn't always the answer. A 2026 scoping review surveys what the evidence actually shows on using oral rehydration solutions to manage the fluid and electrolyte side of ileostomy life — and where the gaps still are.
Eating less to feel safer: what a 2026 review says about over-restricting your diet with an ileostomy
Many people with an ileostomy quietly cut food down to avoid problems. A 2026 nutrition review looks at what that trade-off can cost — and why blanket restriction is not the same as good management.
Ostomy complications, grouped: what a 2026 clinical review lists — and why it points to your care team
A 2026 clinical review catalogues the known ostomy complications into earlier and later ones. It's a map of what exists, not a checklist for self-diagnosis — and that distinction matters.
Nutrition
Sourced explainer
A liquid-only diet for Crohn's: what a 2026 review says about exclusive enteral nutrition in adults
Feeding the gut only formula for a few weeks can calm a Crohn's flare — well established in children. A 2026 review asks how strong the evidence really is in adults, and where the catch is.
Could GLP-1 drugs help with a high-output stoma? What a 2026 review actually found
GLP-1 receptor agonists — the drug class behind weight-loss headlines — are being looked at for high-output stomas. A 2026 scoping review says the early signal is interesting but the evidence is still thin.
Awareness & community
Sourced explainer
Does IBD play a role in cognitive decline? What a 2026 systematic review of 66 studies actually says
Brain fog and forgetfulness are something the IBD community has talked about for years. A new 2026 systematic review pools 66 studies and finds the link is real enough to take seriously — and small enough, still, that the careful word in every sentence is 'associated'.
When 'temporary' isn't: what a 2026 meta-analysis says about loop ileostomies after rectal cancer surgery
A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis pooled 19 studies and nearly 10,000 patients to ask a simple, uncomfortable question — when a diverting loop ileostomy is planned as temporary after rectal cancer surgery, how often does it actually become permanent?
When fatigue isn't 'just being tired': what a 2026 review tells us about anaemia risk in IBD
Anaemia is one of the most common companions of inflammatory bowel disease. A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis pooled the existing studies to ask which patients face the highest risk — not to predict the future, but to map what's worth looking for.
Does inflammation track with low mood in IBD? What a 2026 meta-analysis of CRP and depression actually found
Higher inflammation, lower mood — it's an intuitive link, and a 2026 meta-analysis in inflammatory bowel disease finds the two are associated. But the word 'associated' is doing a lot of quiet work in that sentence, and it matters.
When it might not be the flare: a 2026 expert update on C. difficile infection in IBD
A C. difficile gut infection can look almost exactly like an IBD flare — same diarrhoea, same urgency. A 2026 American Gastroenterological Association practice update exists precisely because telling them apart changes what should happen next.
We share these on Instagram
There is no newsletter or sign-up here. New explainers and short summaries go out on Instagram — follow along there if you'd like updates.
Follow @ostomyfan →