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Exploring Nutritional Counseling for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Review Based on WH Questions
Rebeca Araújo Passos1,2, Raquel Rocha Dos Santos1
1Postgraduate Program in Food, Nutrition and Health, School of Nutrition, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador - BA, CEP.: 40.110-150, Brazil.
Objectives:
The evidence supporting nutritional counseling (NC) as a care strategy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was evaluated in this review. Using a "WH" (what, why, which/where, who, when, and who/for whom) question approach, the review is structured around key questions that prompt detailed answers, providing insights into how NC can optimize IBD management.
Background:
Nutritional counseling has emerged as an essential component of effective management for IBD. However, a lack of nutritional expertise can limit its successful implementation, hindering optimal patient care.
Methods:
This study involves a bibliographic review of articles published in the PubMed database (US National Library of Medicine) until March 2024. Additional articles were identified through manual searches. Key descriptors used for the search were "Inflammatory Bowel Diseases" and associated synonyms, and "Nutritional Counseling" and related synonyms. Only studies that investigated NC as an outcome for populations with IBD were included for a full review.
Results:
The evaluation of evidence suggests that NC plays a crucial role in IBD management, with benefits when introduced early and maintained consistently. As a specialized professional, the dietitian possesses the expertise necessary to deliver safe and effective NC for patients with IBD.
Conclusion:
Effective NC for individuals with IBD requires dietitians with specialized training in gastrointestinal diseases. They must be skilled in understanding IBD diagnoses and tailoring interventions to meet individual patient needs. Patients with IBD should receive nutritional guidance from dietitians as part of a multidisciplinary care team to mitigate risks related to nutrition-related complications.
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