Influence of an elemental diet in protein exudation in chronic inflammatory bowel disease

13 patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease were treated with an elemental diet (Vivasorb). Intestinal protein exudation was studied during the treatment by means of of 131I-albumin. 131I-albumin studies showed no significant change of albumin degradation and, by inference, of intestinal protein loss in the group as a whole. A high initial albumin degradation rate augured treatment with elemental diet and prednisone to be unsuccessful. It is concluded that measurement of intestinal protein leakage is of no predictive value as regards the effect of treatment of chronic inflammatory bowel disease with elemental diet. Apparently, diminishing protein exudation is a late phenomenon during a course of clinical remission.