Background/Aims: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), are chronic conditions marked by dysregulated inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Although the pathophysiology of IBD remains incompletely understood, it involves complex interactions between genetic predisposition and environmental triggers, such as gut microbiota imbalances and immune dysfunction, leading to chronic inflammation and mucosal injury. IBD affects approximately 7 million individuals globally, with prevalence increasing in Europe, North America, and Oceania. This rise parallels the growing consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), which are typically rich in sugars, fats, and additives but low in fiber, vitamins, and other essential nutrients. These associations, this review critically examines the influence of UPF consumption on gut microbiota composition and function and its potential link to IBD. Methods: A bibliographic search was conducted in the SciELO, PubMed, and Cochrane databases. Results and Conclusions: High UPF consumption is associated with intestinal dysbiosis, marked by reduced microbial diversity, decreased short-chain fatty acid production, impaired barrier integrity, and mucus layer disruption. These alterations may promote immune-mediated diseases, including IBD, where dysbiosis is often characterized by an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria such as Clostridium and Enterococcus, ultimately triggering inflammatory responses in the host.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), are chronic conditions marked by dysregulated inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Although the pathophysiology of IBD remains incompletely understood, it involves complex interactions between genetic predisposition and environmental triggers, such as gut microbiota imbalances and immune dysfunction, leading to chronic inflammation and mucosal injury. IBD affects approximately 7 million individuals globally, with prev-alence increasing in Europe, North America and Oceania. This rise parallels the growing consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF), which are typically rich in sugars, fats, and additives but low in fiber, vitamins, and other essential nutrients. High UPF consumption is associated with intestinal dysbiosis, marked by reduced microbial diversity, decreased short-chain fatty acid production, impaired barrier integrity, and mucus layer disruption. These alterations may promote immune-mediated diseases, including IBD, where dysbio-sis is often characterized by an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria such as Clostridium and Enterococcus, ultimately triggering inflammatory responses in the host. Considering these associations, this review critically examines the influence of UPF consumption on gut mi-crobiota composition and function, and its potential link to IBD.

Malnutrition frequently complicates inflammatory bowel disease, arising from increased catabolism, nutrient loss, and decreased intake, leading to impaired outcomes. Nutritional intervention is vital for improving prognosis. A 71-year-old woman with ulcerative colitis, lost to follow-up, was admitted with severe malnutrition (body mass index 12.6 kg/m ² ) and active disease. Infliximab was ineffective. Because of persistent inadequate intake and failed oral supplementation, exclusive enteral nutrition, thiamine, and intravenous multivitamins were started. Despite intervention, clinical deterioration progressed to pleural effusion, hemodynamic instability, and death. Multidisciplinary management is essential for addressing malnutrition and complex needs in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Protein‐energy malnutrition is a common complication in Crohn's disease (CD). In addition to weight loss, patients may develop significant alterations in body composition, including skeletal muscle depletion, which can negatively affect clinical outcomes and quality of life. Herein, we report on a patient with newly diagnosed CD who presented with severe malnutrition and myopenia, which persisted despite improvements in nutritional intake and body weight. A 27‐year‐old woman was admitted with abdominal pain, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, and progressive weight loss (10 kg, 22% of her usual body weight). Based on clinical presentation, family history, and magnetic resonance enterography findings, stricturing CD was diagnosed. Nutritional assessment revealed severe malnutrition (body weight, 31 kg; body mass index, 12.26 kg/m ² ; phase angle, 4.4°, intracellular‐to‐extracellular mass ratio, 0.75). Computed tomography‐based body composition analysis demonstrated marked skeletal muscle depletion (skeletal muscle index, 27.5 cm ² /m ² ), confirming myopenia. The patient was treated with corticosteroids, infliximab, azathioprine, and multidisciplinary nutritional management. After 12 months of follow‐up, she achieved clinical remission and gained approximately 25% of her initial body weight. Despite significant weight recovery and improved dietary intake, computed tomography (CT) revealed low skeletal muscle mass and increased visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue, indicating persistent myopenia. This case highlights the importance of comprehensive body composition assessments in CD. Clinical remission and weight gain may not accurately reflect recovery of skeletal muscle mass. Early nutritional evaluation and longitudinal body composition monitoring may be helpful in the management of patients with CD to identify persistent muscle depletion and optimize long‐term outcomes.