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Nutritional Therapy


Fri, March 11, 2011 11:19 PM

My son was diagnosed last year with crohn &/or colitis based on the path seen on endoscopy and colonoscopy procedure. All biopsies are negative for crhon. I am in denial about the diagnosis. His main symptom are fresh red blood in his stool and low iron level on lab result. He is on an iron supplement and pentaza. I want to start Nutritional Therapy to determine if my son condition can be managed without any drug treatment.

I would like to find out if you have any experience with Nutritional Therapy? How is it working for you?

Thanks you very much for your responses and may God bless!

JA

FPO jaristil
Joined Mar 11, 2011

Sat, March 26, 2011 12:20 PM

 Reply posted for jaristil.

There is excellent data on the benefits of nutritional therapy in IBD, especially Crohns (with small bowel involvement).  However, the strongest data is with the use of nutritional formulas (i.e. liquid diet).  Were not sure how it works, but success rates are equivalent to systemic steroids in inducing remission.  Moreover, nutritional therapy promotes mucosal healing (which steroids do not).

Studies using "partial enteral nutrition" have not yielded statistically significant results, but they certainly appear to help some patients.  The concept is to reduce antigenic dietary load with the supplementation of a complete, liquid formula.  Other modalities call for a "Specific carbohydrate diet" or "six-food elimination diet", but this approach is unlikely to work for everyone.

The best approach is to consult your doctor regarding these modalities and see if s/he can cater treatment to you as an individual.  Feel free to reach out at doron@KahanaMD.com or visit my website: www.KahanaMD.com.  Ill be speaking at the CCFA Family conference at UCLA on April 16, 2011, on Food and Inflammation: Fertilizing the Weeds.  It will address many points relevant to IBD.

Best wishes,
Doron Kahana, MD
Ped GI & Clinical Nutrition Specialist

FPO dkahana
Joined Mar 26, 2011

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