title: The use of an elemental diet in gastro-intestinal diseases.
abstract: An elemental diet containing predigested protein, a high content of predigested fat and carhobydrate, trace elements and vitamins, was administered as the only form of nutrition to 9 adult patients with chlonic, ileal and pancreatic fistulae, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, malabsorption states and abdominal lymphoma, and to 4 children with protracted diarrhoea. The diet was administered orally through a nasogastric tube for 1 - 8 weeks. Two patients were treated on an outpatient basis. There was considrable clinical improvement in 6 adults and in 3 children. Two adults and 1 child did not respond and 1 adult did not co-operate. The results justify the use of this elemental diet in carefully selected patients under strict medical supervision.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000178:diet therapy; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000178:diet therapy; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000178:diet therapy; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007412:Intestinal Fistula / Q000178:diet therapy; D008286:Malabsorption Syndromes / Q000178:diet therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010185:Pancreatic Fistula / Q000178:diet therapy