An elemental diet is effective in the management of diversion colitis

The use of an elemental diet in the management of inflammatory gastroenterological diseases has long been accepted as standard management and has shown to both induce and maintain remission in Crohn's disease, but the evidence is lacking for its use in diversion colitis. An elemental diet is one which provides all the required nutrition in a more easily absorbed and hypoallergenic form. In this case report, we present a patient who had a flare of diversion colitis treated with diet alone. She had a significant improvement in her symptoms with a decrease in bowel motions, rectal discharge and pain. This case suggests that there may be some role for the use of an elemental diet in the management of diversion colitis. We also examine some potential mechanisms which may lead to the benefit observed.