Controversy in Nutrition Recommendations for Short Bowel Syndrome: How Type of SBS Impacts Response

This review examines the current recommendations for dietary management of patients living with short bowel syndrome (SBS) and outlines the need for future research to provide optimal care for this unique group of patients.

Providers caring for patients with SBS lack sufficient data to help guide recommendations regarding diet. The majority of studies are conducted at a single medical institution on a small number of anatomically diverse patients. Multi-center studies would allow for inclusion of a larger number of patients and may lead to more individualized dietary recommendations. Patients with short bowel syndrome should be evaluated on an individual basis by a multidisciplinary team including physicians, dieticians, pharmacists, and nurses specializing in the care of these complex patients. Tailoring both medical and nutritional therapy will help realize the overarching goal for these patients of maintaining adequate nutrition with diet and medications, and achieving independence from parenteral support.