Nutrition management of chronic diarrhea and malabsorption

Diet often is blamed for digestive symptoms, particularly diarrhea, and patients with diarrhea and malabsorption usually request guidance about what to eat. Food-induced symptoms are very common. Although many recommendations have been made for dietary management in diarrheal diseases, there is little supportive evidence for efficacy for any of them. Knowledge of gastrointestinal physiology and the physiologic effects of foods can be used to design a dietary program for individual patients. Coordination of diet with drug therapy is an important part of a comprehensive treatment plan for these patients.