It is proposed that ganglioside degradation is elevated in the inflamed gut of IBD patients. Provision of ganglioside in the diet replaces ganglioside in the gut, consequently restoring proper structure and function to the diseased intestine and inducing disease remission. Insight into diet-based treatment would allow IBD patients to live healthy and happy lives. The main research objective is to characterize how ganglioside catabolism is associated with increased signaling from pro-inflammatory mediators and how reduction in ganglioside levels can be ameliorated by ganglioside supplementation during active inflammatory disease. This study will assess molecular mechanisms by which ganglioside alters gut permeability, inflammatory mediators and cell signaling.