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Toronto, Canada — Dog lovers have long extolled the virtues of canine companionship, but recent research from Sinai Health and the University of Toronto suggests that growing up with a dog may offer surprising health benefits, particularly for gut health. A new study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology reveals that exposure to dogs during childhood is associated with beneficial changes in gut bacteria, gut permeability, and blood biomarkers, potentially reducing the risk of developing Crohn’s disease.
Conducted by researchers Kenneth Croitoru and Williams Turpin at Mount Sinai Hospital’s Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), the study found that living with a dog between the ages of 5 and 15 contributes to a healthier gut microbiome and diminishes the likelihood of Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel condition that has seen a troubling increase among children in recent years.
“The idea behind predicting someone’s risk of disease is that you can then also begin to understand who you might want to do something to try and prevent disease,” said Croitoru, a clinician-scientist at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute and a professor of medicine and immunology at the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine. He emphasized that while the study establishes a link between dog ownership and reduced risk of Crohn’s, it does not clarify the underlying mechanisms.
In addition to canine companionship, the research indicated that being raised in a large family during the first year of life also lowers the risk of Crohn’s disease. Conversely, those who lived with birds during the study were more likely to develop the condition.
Crohn’s disease, characterized by inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, can lead to serious health complications. Its incidence among children under 10 has doubled since 1995, with an annual cost to Canada estimated at $5.4 billion, according to Crohn’s and Colitis Canada.
While genetics plays a significant role in the development of Crohn’s disease, environmental factors are also influential. “While we can’t change our genes, we can modify our surroundings and diet to potentially prevent the disease from occurring,” said Croitoru, who holds the Canada Research Chair in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.
These findings stem from the Genetic, Environmental and Microbial (GEM) Project, the largest study aimed at identifying potential triggers for Crohn’s disease. Launched in 2008 at Mount Sinai Hospital, the GEM Project has been collecting extensive medical and lifestyle data from over 5,000 healthy first-degree relatives of Crohn’s patients worldwide, including in Canada, Australia, Israel, New Zealand, the U.K., and the U.S.
In the 15 years since its inception, more than 120 participants have developed Crohn’s disease. “By understanding what is different about those who develop the disease, we should be able to predict who is at risk,” Croitoru explained.
The research team has previously identified variations in the microbiome and biomarkers between individuals who develop Crohn’s and those who do not. In a related study published in Gastroenterology, Sun-Ho Lee, a clinician-scientist at Mount Sinai Hospital’s IBD Center, utilized machine learning to create an “integrative risk score” that accurately predicts the risk of Crohn’s disease.
However, predicting risk is just the first step. Croitoru’s ultimate aim is to develop strategies for prevention, such as dietary supplements to promote a healthy microbiome.
“By integrating genetic, environmental, and microbial data, Dr. Croitoru and colleagues are paving the way towards personalized intervention strategies that could significantly reduce the incidence of Crohn’s disease,” stated Anne-Claude Gingras, director of LTRI and vice-president of research at Sinai Health.
For further reading:
- Mingyue Xue et al, Environmental Factors Associated With Risk of Crohn’s Disease Development in the Crohn’s and Colitis Canada – Genetic, Environmental, Microbial Project, Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2024.03.049
- Sun-Ho Lee et al, Development and Validation of an Integrative Risk Score for Future Risk of Crohn’s Disease in Healthy First-Degree Relatives: A Multicentre Prospective Cohort Study, Gastroenterology (2024). DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2024.08.021
