[Enteral nutrition in the therapy of gastrointestinal diseases (according to materials of the European Association of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition)].

The present article gives evidence-based recommendations for the indication, application and type of formula of enteral nutrition (EN) (oral nutrition supplements (ONS) or tube feeding (TF)) in patients with Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), short bowel syndrome (SBS), acute and chronic pancreatitis, alcoholic steatogepatitis and cirrosis. ONS and/or TF in addition to normal food is indicates in undernourished patients with CD or UC to improve nutritional status. In active CD EN is the first line therapy in children and should be used as sole therapy in adults mainly when treatment with corticosteroids is not feasible.

[Clinical efficacy of enteral nutrition in inflammatory bowel diseases].

Undernutrition with weight loss, protein deficiency and specific deficiencies in vitamins, and trace elements are common in the acute phase of IBD. Anorexia, increased intestinal losses and systemic inflammation are the main causes of undernutrition. The relevance and extent of these deficiencies vary according to the site and extent of diseased intestine as well as disease activity.