title: Use of an elemental diet for long-term nutritional support in Crohn's disease.
abstract: An elemental diet was used for long-term (up to 360 days) nutritional support in eight patients with Crohn's diesease. They had lost 30% (range 18-37%) of their weight in health. A whole-body monitor was used to measure total body potassium as an index of the lean tissue mass. Three preoperative patients who has been unable to maintain their weight on a normal diet were able to restore 10% per month of their lost lean tissue once they were established on an elemental diet. In five patients who had had a successful resection of their bowel lesion the postoperative rate of restoration of the lean tissue mass while taking an elemental diet was 18.5% per month, while in two control postoperative patients on a normal diet it was 19% per month.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D011300:Preoperative Care; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D009584:Nitrogen; D011188:Potassium