Review article: Crohn's disease - the role of nutritional therapy

Maintenance of adequate nutrition is of obvious importance in the management of patients with Crohn's disease. Exclusive parenteral nutrition can achieve high rates of remission, but this is not usually necessary since exclusive elemental and polymeric enteral regimes can yield similarly good results. Comparison of exclusive enteral formula feeding with steroid treatment favours steroids only because compliance is less complete for the restrictive nutritional regimes, and formula feeds should always be the first choice in the growing child with active Crohn's disease. It is probable that the nature of the lipid provided in Crohn's diets is clinically important, and there is some evidence that the n-3 fatty acids are beneficial. Continuation of nutritional supplements once remission has been obtained appears valuable even when malnutrition is not a major consideration.