[Crohn's disease in prolonged remission: should one augment protein-calorie intake as compared to healthy subjects?]

The aim of our two year prospective study was to evaluate whether adult Crohn's disease patients in prolonged remission (CDAI < 150), in order to maintain their body weight as close as possible to the ideal one, need a protein-calorie intake higher than the predicted one and that of healthy controls. Twenty-four out of 49 Crohn's disease patients in clinical remission completed the two year prospective study, during which they were free to eat "ad libitum", in quantity and in quality. Twenty-three of the 24 patients (96%) maintained their body weight > 95% of the ideal one. As compared to predicted intakes, mean calories were -12.23% (= 272 +/- 91 Kcal/day) lower (P < 0.01), and proteins +40.6% (20.16 +/- 13.6 g/day; = 0.32 g/kg b.w./day) higher (p < 0.001). Protein-calorie intake and glycolipid ratio were comparable to those of healthy controls (p = n.s.). In the group of patients who had a relapse during the follow-up, 9 out of 25 were found to be underweight at the onset of the survey. Their protein-calorie intake was equivalent to that of subjects who completed the study. We conclude that adult Crohn's disease patients in prolonged remission maintain their ideal body weight by a protein-calorie intake comparable to that of healthy population and do not need a tailored regimen.