The MELODY Trial will test whether a non-invasive diet intervention during the third trimester of pregnancy can beneficially shift the bacterial flora of the body, or the microbiome, in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and in their babies.

CD, a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is a chronic condition of the gastrointestinal tract that is associated with an imbalance in the gut microbiome (the makeup of bacteria in the intestines). Diet may play a role in the development and treatment of CD. Growing evidence suggests that maternal health and diet during pregnancy have an impact on the baby’s microbiome. This is important as the early life microbiome informs the immune system development, with long-term health consequences, including an increased risk of CD and other diseases caused by weakening of the immune system.

By changing the maternal microbiome during pregnancy through diet, we hope to be able to promote healthy immune system development in infants born to mothers with CD.