Non-nutritive Sweeteners in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Change in Fecal Myeloperoxidase activity (MPO)

Quantify the change in fecal MPO

Time frame: Baseline, three weeks pre-intervention, three weeks post-intervention

Change in Fecal Calprotectin

Quantify the change in fecal calprotectin

Time frame: Baseline, three weeks pre-intervention, three weeks post-intervention

Change in Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI)

Quantify the change in Crohn's Disease Activity Index. The Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) is a validated clinical instrument used to quantify Crohn's disease activity. It evaluates 8 components over a 7-day period: number of liquid or very soft stools, severity of abdominal pain, general well-being, extraintestinal complications, use of antidiarrheal medications, presence of an abdominal mass, hematocrit levels, and body weight deviation. Each component is multiplied by a specific weighting factor and summed to calculate a total score. Total scores range from 0 to approximately 600 points, where lower scores indicate lower disease activity. A score of \<150 indicates clinical remission, while a score of \>450 indicates severe disease. A negative change from baseline indicates clinical improvement.

Time frame: Study visit 2 (three weeks pre-intervention) & 3 (three weeks post-intervention)

Change in C-reactive protein (CRP)

Quantify change in CRP

Time frame: Study visit 2 (three weeks pre-intervention) & 3 (three weeks post-intervention_