Episode 59: AIP for IBD — The Groundbreaking Scripps Pilot & Quality of Life Studies

For years, people living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis have asked whether diet can meaningfully impact inflammatory bowel disease. Until recently, there was very little clinical research to help answer that question.

In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott kicks off a new AIP Medical Research Review series by walking through the very first clinical studies ever conducted on the Autoimmune Protocol. These groundbreaking studies—led by gastroenterologist Dr. Gauree Konijeti and her team at Scripps—examined the effects of AIP in adults with longstanding, active inflammatory bowel disease.

This episode reviews two landmark papers: the 2017 Scripps pilot study on AIP for IBD and the 2019 follow-up study examining patient-reported quality of life. Mickey explains how the studies were designed, who participated, what the AIP intervention looked like in a clinical setting, and what the results actually showed—both in symptoms and in day-to-day functioning.

Along the way, this episode clarifies why these studies still matter nearly a decade later, how they helped shape today’s Core and Modified AIP approaches, and what they reveal about the role of diet and lifestyle in autoimmune care.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. How the first AIP research study began with a single ulcerative colitis patient
2. Why Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis fall under the IBD umbrella
3. Who participated in the Scripps pilot study and why the results were so striking
4. What the AIP intervention looked like in a clinical research setting
5. Which foods were eliminated and which nutrient-dense foods were emphasized
6. How lifestyle support and coaching were integrated into the study
7. What clinical remission meant in the context of these trials
8. How AIP affected inflammatory markers and gut-specific biomarkers
9. What the quality of life study revealed beyond symptom improvement
10. Why these findings helped pave the way for Modified AIP
11. Key safety considerations for people with IBD, including strictures
12. Practical takeaways for applying AIP to IBD today

Resources:

Scripps Pilot Study (2017): Efficacy of the Autoimmune Protocol Diet for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Scripps Quality of Life Study (2019): An Autoimmune Protocol Diet Improves Patient-Reported Quality of Life in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

AIP Foundation Series – Free 5-day email course with printable guides and beginner resources

AIP Certified Coach Program & Practitioner Directory – Professional training and global support directory

Episode Timeline:

00:00 – The patient story that sparked AIP research

02:35 – Overview of the IBD and quality of life studies

03:46 – Understanding IBD and standard treatments

05:10 – Why study AIP for inflammatory bowel disease

06:13 – Study participant profile

08:19 – The AIP study intervention

11:41 – Clinical endpoints and biomarkers

13:58 – Results: clinical outcomes

17:19 – Medication changes during the study

19:05 – Safety considerations

20:54 – Quality of life study results

23:53 – Why these studies still matter

27:15 – Practical takeaways for listeners

31:03 – Recap and wrap-up