Antifungal treatment shows promise for inflammatory bowel disease

A drug commonly used to treat fungal infections could also help ease symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), after researchers found it may restore the balance of microorganisms in the gut. The study, published in Nature Medicine, involved 53 people with mild to moderate Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. All participants also had oral thrush, a fungal infection that can cause white patches, soreness and irritation in the mouth. They were already receiving standard treatment for IBD. Researchers compared two antifungal treatments, nystatin mouthwash and fluconazole. Both cleared the fungal infection in the mouth. However, only fluconazole appeared to reduce the amount of Candida fungus in the gut and alter the balance of microorganisms living there. People who received fluconazole reported improvements in their IBD symptoms. Researchers also found the treatment increased the variety of beneficial bacteria in the gut and boosted production of butyrate.