Nutritional Support in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Various dietary and nutritional factors have been suggested as significant etiological factors for both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. However, there are no proven dietary approaches to reduce the risk of development of inflammatory bowel disease. More importantly, nutrition itself has proven to be a central component in the treatment of the disease, both as a primary therapy and for correcting various nutritional deficiencies. Therefore regular evaluation of nutritional status, including specific deficits, is important for the management of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Nutritional support is effective in inducing clinical remission of Crohn's disease, maintaining the remission, and providing positive benefits to growth and overall nutritional status with minimal adverse effects. This article reviews current evidence of the efficacy of nutritional support in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.