Goals of treatment for patients with inflammatory bowel disease are to induce and maintain remission, minimize medication side effects, promote optimal nutrition and growth, and encourage normal activity and participation. There is no single therapy that is effective for all patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Treatment is individualized and modified depending on the severity of the patient's symptoms and the area of the small or large bowel that is affected. Treatment may include a combination of medications, nutritional therapy, surgery, education, and assessment of psychosocial issues. Nutritional therapy is necessary to correct nutritional deficiencies and to provide adequate energy for healing the inflamed intestine and adequate calories for growth.
Patients benefit from a balanced, high-energy diet.
Low-residue diets may be recommended for patients with more severe gastrointestinal symptoms such as pain or diarrhea. Patients are often placed on supplemental vitamins, trace minerals, and iron. In addition, nutritional therapy has also been used as a single form of therapy in the treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Nutritionally complete formulas are given to patients as their only form of nutrition. This form of therapy has been shown to be effective in the treatment of some children with active Crohn's disease and growth failure, avoiding the side effects of medication and promoting growth.