Background
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, is a term used to describe conditions that involve inflammation of the gut. The two main types of IBD are ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). UC only affects the colon whereas CD can affect any part of the digestive system, from the mouth to the bottom. People of any age can get IBD, but it’s usually diagnosed between the age of 15 and 40.1 Both are long-term conditions whose treatment and management require careful nutritional therapy.1
The main symptoms of CD and UC include abdominal pain, urgent and/or bloody diarrhoea, tiredness and weight loss. Not everyone experiences the same symptoms, and individuals can go through periods when they experience flare-ups and other periods when they experience hardly any symptoms at all. The causes of IBD are unclear.1
Malnutrition is highly prevalent in IBD, especially in Crohn’s disease. Nutritional care is very important in the treatment of patients with IBD and includes prevention of the treatment of malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, prevention of osteoporosis, and, in children, promotion of optimal growth and development.2
Nutritional Management
No diet has been shown to prevent or cure IBD, so there are no set recommendations in terms of what to eat.
When appetite is poor, oral nutritional supplements may help provide the right level of nutrients a person needs.2 If there is an increase in the level of nutrients needed, or if individuals are unable to tolerate an oral diet, a feeding tube can also be used to provide nutrients directly into the stomach or small bowel.
Products
For people with IBD, the following feeds might be suitable:
Vital 1.5kcal
Vital 1.5kcal is suitable for people with disease-related malnutrition and malabsorption or for those who experience symptoms of poor feed tolerance. Vital 1.5kcal is a peptide-based* feed that is available both as a 200ml oral nutritional supplement, and as a 1000ml Ready to Hang tube feed, both of which attach directly to Abbott giving sets.
Perative
Perative is a 1.3kcal/ml, peptide-based* tube feed for the dietary management of people with malabsorption or who experience symptoms of poor feed tolerance. Perative is available in 500ml and 1000ml Ready to Hang bottles, which attach directly to Abbott giving sets.
PaediaSure Peptide
PaediaSure Peptide is suitable for the dietary management of children weighing 8-30kg with malabsorption or children who experience symptoms of poor feed tolerance. PaediaSure Peptide is a 1.0kcal/ml peptide-based* feed that is available both as a 500ml Ready to Hang tube feed and as a 200ml oral nutritional supplement.
*Peptides are partially broken down proteins, which makes them easier to digest and absorb in the gut than whole proteins.
To find out more about any particular product in our wide range of adult, older children and paediatric feeds, please click here.