title: Nutritional management in cystic fibrosis--an alternative perspective in gastrointestinal function.
abstract: The gastrointestinal problems in cystic fibrosis (CF) may limit energy and nutrient availability and also cause symptoms such as abdominal pain and disturbed bowel habit which may further suppress appetite or alter the diet. Taken together this may lead to an inadequate supply of energy and nutrients to meet the nutritional requirements of the individual resulting in restricted growth or weight loss. A failure to optimize the digestive and absorptive capacity of the gastrointestinal tract places greater emphasis upon nutritional management by food intake alone. Practitioners need to focus more on gastrointestinal dysfunction in CF and its impact upon food intake in order to improve the efficacy of nutritional management. Refined stable isotopic tracers allow further exploration of the pathophysiology of the gastrointestinal tract in terms of nutrient availability. In clinical practice, a closer assessment of gastrointestinal function is supported by the use of simple, noninvasive tools which, both objectively and systematically, characterize those patients who have problems.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Nutrition, University of Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Wootton
mesh_terms: D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000150:complications*; D002149:Energy Intake; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D018529:Nutritional Support / Q000379:methods*