[Nutrition and dietary treatment of chronic inflammatory bowel disease]

The relationships between nutrition and chronic inflammatory bowel disease (CIBD) range from a possible involvement in the etiopathogenesis of the disease to dietary intervention in the various disease stages. CIBDs are often associated with dietary depletion. Prevention and treatment of malnutrition are therefore obligatory elements of therapy. The following stepped dietary treatment strategy applies: dietary counseling, supplementary dietary drinks, feeding via a stomach tube, parenteral alimentation. In the case of uncomplicated CIBD, an adequate and balanced diet (light full diet) is the goal. In the event of malnutrition, during an acute attack, and when complications occur, the diet must be adapted accordingly. Total parenteral alimentation is, per se, more likely to be associated with complications, is more expensive that enteral alimentation, and is thus reserved for specific indications.