Is Your Appendix a Gut-Health Hero?

Appendectomies are linked to Crohn’s Disease and shorter lifespan, while research shows alternative approaches can alleviate pain better than surgery. 

Study by study, evidence shows there's purposes for the appendix wrapped up in our immune and gut microbiome health. Shutterstock

The case for keeping your appendix—when possible—continues to grow, with new evidence emerging that removing it could cause an inflamed bowel down the road.

A systematic review and meta-analysis showed those who’ve undergone surgery to remove their appendix may have 53 percent elevated odds of developing Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This finding, presented in December 2023 at the Advances in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases annual meeting, substantiates accumulating evidence that the appendix plays an important immunomodulating role.