About

Lindsey G. Albenberg, D.O., is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics specializing in Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. He serves as an Attending Physician in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition within the Department of Pediatrics. His clinical expertise focuses on Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and his research expertise centers on the composition and functions of the gut microbiota in inflammatory bowel disease. Dr. Albenberg holds the Weintraub Family Endowed Chair in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Research at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. His educational background includes a B.S. in Biology from the University of Michigan and a D.O. from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Gastroenterology
• Internal medicine

Selected publications

• Poor quality, pro-inflammatory diet in children with Crohn’s disease and healthy controls: a cross-sectional study

  British Journal Of Nutrition · 2026-03-31

  articleOpen access

  Diet plays a critical role in the development and progression of Crohn's disease (CD). Dietary indices are important tools to evaluate diet quality and inflammatory potential, and we investigated their associations with paediatric CD compared with healthy children. A cross-sectional study including 144 children with CD (122 with clinically active and twenty-two with quiescent disease) and fifty-seven healthy controls aged 6-18 years was conducted. Dietary intake was estimated using three 24-h dietary recalls. Diet quality was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015, alternate Mediterranean diet (aMed) score and dietary inflammatory potential using the modified Children-Dietary Inflammatory Index (mC-DII). Children with active CD had lower total HEI-2015 and aMed scores than healthy controls. A similar pro-inflammatory mC-DII score was found across the three groups. A higher mC-DII score in patients with CD was associated with higher intake of refined sugars, saturated fats and protein, and lower intake of whole grains and dairy, identifying dietary components contributing to dietary nflammatory potential. Similarly, healthy children in the highest mC-DII tertile consumed more added sugars and sodium and fewer whole grains, fruits, vegetables and plant proteins. Fibre intake was significantly lower in children with active CD (median %DRI: 37·0 (22·6-48·3) vs 41·2 (34·1-49·1) vs 45·8 (35·7-62·0), P < 0·001). Overall both children with CD and healthy children in this cohort consume a poor-quality, pro-inflammatory diet low in fibre, but the quality and fibre content are significantly lower in children with active CD. Future randomised controlled trials are needed to evaluate dietary interventions on the risk and progression of paediatric CD.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The Crohn's Disease Exclusion Diet Across the Lifespan, Indications and the Globe: An Expert Review Towards Personalized Therapy in Crohn's Disease

  JCC Plus · 2026-02-05

  articleOpen access

  ABSTRACT Background and Aims The Crohn's disease (CD) exclusion diet (CDED) is an established treatment for active CD with a growing body of evidence supporting its use across diverse populations and disease phenotypes. Particularly effective in mild‐to‐moderate cases, CDED is recognized by clinical guidelines including ESPEN, AGA and ECCO nutritional consensus. Methods This review collates current literature on the role of CDED across the lifespan, examining its various indications and application around the globe, while identifying evidence gaps and offering insights to enhance its integration as part of a comprehensive treatment strategy. A multidisciplinary panel including paediatric and adult gastroenterologists and registered dietitians (RD) specializing in CDED convened to review the literature and share clinical experience. The panel discussed CDED use across ages, indications, adherence strategies, cultural adaptations and the essential role of the multidisciplinary team (MDT). Results This review confirms that CDED is an effective induction therapy for mild‐to‐moderate CD, with robust evidence supporting its efficacy. The CDED might be effective across additional populations and disease phenotypes; however, due to limited evidence, definitive recommendations cannot be made, and decisions should be made collaboratively by the physician, the RD and the patient. While further research is needed to validate personalized dietary approaches, the evolution of dietary therapy marks a new era in IBD management. Conclusions Overall, this review highlights the potential for CDED to shift treatment paradigms by integrating nutritional therapy as an essential component of patient care throughout the lifespan and a variety of patients.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Contributors

  Elsevier eBooks · 2025-07-23

  book-chapter
  PublisherDOI

• Tu2094: COHORT FOR PEDIATRIC TRANSLATIONAL AND CLINICAL RESEARCH IN IBD (CAPTURE IBD): INITIAL ENROLLMENT OF A DIVERSE AND ADVANCED THERAPY-EXPOSED PROSPECTIVE COHORT

  Gastroenterology · 2025-05-01

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Prevalence and predictors of low bone mineral density in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease

  Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition · 2025-04-29 · 4 citations

  article

  OBJECTIVES: Bone health is at risk in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study examined the prevalence and predictors of low bone mineral density (BMD) in a cohort of children and young adults with IBD. METHODS: This single-center retrospective study included patients with IBD, ages 3.5-22 years, with completed dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans from 2006 to 2019. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected. Logistic regression analysis identified predictors associated with low BMD (Z-scores ≤ -2 standard deviations [SDs]) for three outcomes. In an overlapping IBD cohort with available genetic data between 2002 and 2019 (n = 378), genetic risk for diminished bone health was calculated using published polygenic risk scores generated from genome-wide association studies based on DXA or heel ultrasound speed of sound (SOS). Linear regression analysis examined associations of low BMD and genetic risk. RESULTS: Low BMD prevalence was 7% in our cohort (n = 600) based on spine bone mineral apparent density (BMAD), which best accounts for growth delays. Median (interquartile range [IQR]) spine BMAD Z-score was -0.37 SD (-1.11 to 0.35). Predictors of low BMAD included lower BMI Z-score (odds ratio [OR]: 0.67, p value: 0.02) and decreased height Z-score (OR: 0.6, p value: 0.005). Of those with longitudinal data (n = 118), low BMI (OR: 0.44, p value: <0.001) and steroid use (OR: 3.42, p value: 0.01) were associated with suboptimal bone health (Z-scores ≤ -1SD). In the cohort with genetic data, heel genomic SOS (β [standard error] = 0.17 [0.35], p ≤ 0.01) was associated with BMD. CONCLUSIONS: Lower BMI should prompt DXA monitoring in pediatric IBD. Genetic predisposition may identify an at-risk subpopulation.

  PublisherDOI

• P0612 Postoperative outcomes in tofacitinib-treated patients with acute severe ulcerative colitis undergoing total abdominal colectomy

  Journal of Crohn s and Colitis · 2025-01-01 · 1 citations

  article

  Abstract Background Up to 30% of patients with acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) require urgent colectomy despite IV corticosteroids and rescue therapies with infliximab or cyclosporin. JAK-inhibitors, like tofacitinib, have emerged as effective treatments for ASUC, but data on postoperative complications are limited.1, 2 Methods We conducted a multicenter, retrospective, case-control (1:2) study of patients hospitalized with ASUC who underwent colectomy, comparing patients treated with tofacitinib (cases) prior to their colectomy with those treated with usual care (controls).1 The primary outcome was rate of serious postoperative complications within 30 days of colectomy defined as Clavien-Demartines-Dindo classification grade ≥3. Outcomes were compared between the tofacitinib-treated cases and controls using adjusted multivariable regression analysis. Results In all, 41 tofacitinib-treated ASUC patients were compared to 83 patients with ASUC who received usual stand of care. Among patients treated with usual care, 68 (82%) patients received rescue infliximab, 1 (1%) had rescue cyclosporine, and 80 (96%) had corticosteroids within 24 hours of colectomy compared to patients in the tofacitinib-treated group, where 5 (12%) had rescue infliximab, 4 (10%) rescue cyclosporine, and 34 (83%) corticosteroids. Compared to tofacitinib-treated patients, patients who received usual care had higher rates of serious postoperative complications (24 [29%] vs 5 [12%], p=0.023) and overall postoperative complications (51 [61.4%] vs 13 [31.7%], p=0.003). Multivariable regression adjusted for CRP, albumin, age at the time of colectomy, open surgery, preoperative length of stay, ASA classification, as well as concomitant corticosteroid and infliximab use did, however, not demonstrate a significantly different risk for developing both serious postoperative complications (OR 0.52 [95% CI 0.07-3.11], p=0.5) or overall postoperative complications (OR 1.00 [0.28-3.55], p&amp;gt;0.9) between the tofacitinib-treated group and usual care group. Overall rates of 30-day VTE were also similar in the two groups (tofacitinib group: 2 [4.9%] vs usual-care group: 5 [6.0%], p=0.16), but numerically higher for delayed VTE within 31-90 days in the usual-care group (2 [2.4%] vs 0 [0%], p=0.81). One patient (2%) treated with tofacitinib died from septic shock secondary to infectious pneumonia 14 days after surgery, whereas no deaths occurred in the usual care group (p=0.72). Postoperative length of stay was similar between groups (5 [4-8] vs 7 [4-11], p=0.14). Conclusion No difference in postoperative complications was observed between tofacitinib-treated and usual care ASUC patients. Larger prospective trials are needed to confirm these findings. References 1.Steenholdt C, Dige Ovesen P, Brynskov J, et al. Tofacitinib for Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis: A Systematic Review. J Crohns Colitis 2023;17:1354-1363. 2.Singh A, Goyal MK, Midha V, et al. Tofacitinib in Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis (TACOS): A Randomized Controlled Trial. Am J Gastroenterol 2024;119:1365-1372.

  PublisherDOI

• Treatment of <i>H Pylori</i> in Children to Prevent Gastric Cancer

  JAMA Pediatrics · 2025-12-02

  article

  This Viewpoint discusses why treatment should be routinely recommended in the pediatric patient with Helicobacter pylori .

  PublisherDOI

• Clinical risk factors for body composition deficits in children with inflammatory bowel disease

  Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition · 2025-05-19

  articleOpen access

  OBJECTIVES: Children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) often have low body mass index (BMI). BMI does not distinguish between fat and lean mass. Body composition deficits may be associated with worse clinical outcomes. We examined the prevalence of risk factors associated with body composition deficits in youth with pediatric-onset IBD, and factors associated with low lean mass in the presence of a normal BMI Z-score (BMI-Z). METHODS: Newly diagnosed IBD patients ages 5-20 years with whole body dual energy x-ray absorptiometry scans acquired between 2014 and 2019 were included. Appendicular lean soft tissue mass index (AppLSTMI) and fat mass index (FMI) were expressed as age and sex-specific Z-scores. Clinical and demographic data were collected retrospectively. Logistic regression was used to assess associations with body composition outcomes. RESULTS: Five hundred sixteen patients were included, 26% had AppLSTMI Z-score (AppLSTMI-Z) < -2, 4% had BMI-Z < -2, and none had FMI Z-score (FMI-Z) < -2. Increased risk of low AppLSTMI-Z associated with Crohn's diagnosis, Asian ethnicity, disease activity, elevated platelets, and glucocorticoid use. Females had lower FMI-Z. Low AppLSTMI-Z within the context of BMI-Z (n = 112) was associated with Crohn's disease, Asian (odds ratio [OR] = 3.77, p = 0.001) and Black identity (OR = 0.32, p = 0.02), and elevated platelets (OR = 1.76, p = 0.02) compared to those with normal BMI-Z and normal AppLSTMI-Z. CONCLUSIONS: BMI is a poor indicator of body composition in children with IBD as it masks lean mass deficits which are highly prevalent. Future studies regarding the long-term consequences and reversibility of this deficit are warranted.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• 1049: PREBIOTIC INULIN-TYPE FRUCTANS INDUCE SPECIFIC CHANGES IN THE HUMAN GUT MICROBIOME IN CHILDREN WITH INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

  Gastroenterology · 2025-05-01

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Protracted Diarrhea

  Elsevier eBooks · 2025-07-23

  book-chapter1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• Fundamental Modification of the Gut Microbiota in Refractory Crohn's Disease

  NIH · $918k · 2016–2021

Frequent coauthors

• Robert N. Baldassano

  55 shared

• Meenakshi Bewtra

  University of Pennsylvania

  37 shared

• Sumona Saha

  UW Health University Hospital

  35 shared

• David Hudesman

  32 shared

• James D. Lewis

  University of Pennsylvania

  31 shared

• Judith R. Kelsen

  28 shared

• Gary D. Wu

  University of Pennsylvania

  28 shared

• Kyle Bittinger

  California University of Pennsylvania

  24 shared

Awards & honors

• Weintraub Family Endowed Chair in Inflammatory Bowel Disease…