Elemental diet

An elemental diet is a diet that proposes the ingestion, or in more severe cases use of a gastric feeding tube or intravenous feeding, of liquid nutrients in an easily assimilated form. It is usually composed of amino acids, fats, sugars, vitamins, and minerals. This diet, however, lacks whole or partial protein due to its ability to cause an allergic reaction in some people.

The elemental diet is used mainly in the treatment of individuals with Crohn's disease as a form of nutritional therapy. Crohn's disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease causing inflammation of any area of the gastrointestinal tract and is able to occur in people of all ages, but often diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 30. The most common indication of having Crohn's is blockage of the intestine, and sores and ulcers around the area of the affected tissue. This includes the bladder, vagina, rectum, and anus. Other problems may also include skin problems, arthritis, and inflammation of the mouth or eyes.

Nutritional problems that result from Crohn's are due to inflammation of the small intestine that cause diarrhea. This leads to malabsorption of important nutrients in the small intestine, causing malnutrition, fever, fatigue, and weight loss.

The elemental diet consists of a mixture of essential amino acids with non-essential amino acids. 90% of the energy from the diet comes from the monosaccharide glucose, and there is less than 1% of fat. Water-soluble vitamins, fat-soluble vitamins, and electrolytes are often added. The elemental diet is commonly introduced over a period of three days to patients, successively increasing in strength on each day to reduce the likelihood of diarrhea and abdominal colic. It can be given orally or through nasogastric tubes if patients are intolerant to the liquid.

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