Gangliosides are dietary fats found in milk and are important constituents of intestinal cells. Our previous studies have shown that inflamed intestinal mucosal cells have reduced ganglioside content compared to normal mucosal cells. Gangliosides are glycolipids found on the surface of the intestinal mucosa and in lipid rafts in enterocytes and lymphocytes. Gangliosides influence microbial attachment, cell division, differentiation, signaling and mucosal integrity. Preclinical studies show that provision of ganglioside in cell culture and in animal diets increase ganglioside content in mucosal cells and down regulates signals caused by pro-inflammatory stimuli. In subjects with active Crohn's disease, consumption of ganglioside remarkably improved the Crohn's Disease Activity Index. In healthy control subjects, dietary ganglioside improved intestinal permeability and decreased production of pro-inflammatory prostaglandin E2.