A CASE OF CROHN'S DISEASE SUCCESSFULLY MANAGED BY A LONG-TERM ENTERAL NUTRITION OF DIGESTED DIET CONTAINING MCT

Abstract

Crohn's disease is treated by medication, operation, and alimentary therapy, and among of them the usefulness of enteral nutrition has been pointed out. Not only elemental diet (ED) but also low residue diets have been reported to be useful, however, there are few cases of long-term use of such digested diets. We have successfully managed a postoperative patient with Crohn's disease involving the small intestine and colon by enteral nutrition mainly with digested diets which are rich in lipids, especially medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) at home. The enteral nutrition was started in a remission period after operation for peritonitis due to perforation of the ileum. About three years have elapsed up to now, and normalization and maintenance of inflammatory reaction, disappearance of the subjective symptoms, maintenance of good nutritional status and weight gain were observed. The patient has recovered normal social activities without any recurrence. Low molecular peptides and MCT in the digested diet are excellent in the digestion and absorption in the body. It is thought that this digested diet regimen involving such peptides and MCT might contribute to the good nutritional management in this case.