Abstract
Malnutrition represents a major problem in the clinical management of the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Presently, our understanding of the cross-link between eating behavior and intestinal inflammation is still in its infancy. Crohn’s disease patients with active disease exhibit strong hedonic desires for food and emotional eating patterns possibly to ameliorate feelings of low mood, anxiety, and depression. Impulsivity traits seen in IBD patients may predispose them to palatable food intake as an immediate reward rather than concerns for future health. The upregulation of enteroendocrine cells (EEC) peptide response to food intake has been described in ileal inflammation, which may lead to alterations in gut–brain signaling with implications for appetite and eating behavior. In summary, a complex interplay of gut peptides, psychological, cognitive factors, disease-related symptoms, and inflammatory burden may ultimately govern eating behavior in intestinal inflammation.
Highlights
Malnutrition represents a major problem in the clinical management of the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Malnutrition represents a major problem in the clinical management of the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), Crohn’s disease (CD), and ulcerative colitis (UC)
There is a lack of food and eating behavior-specific studies, to understand the structural and functional brain changes associated with food intake and eating behavior in intestinal inflammation
Summary
Malnutrition represents a major problem in the clinical management of the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), Crohn’s disease (CD), and ulcerative colitis (UC). Malnutrition may be attributed to poor nutritional intake, micronutrient deficiencies due to impaired utilization or loss of nutrients, malabsorption due to mucosal inflammation or resection [1]. The negative nitrogen balance observed in CD is related to increased protein catabolism rates [2] in response to increased protein requirements attributed to intestinal and systemic inflammation (e.g., acute-phase protein, pro-inflammatory cytokine, and fecal calprotectin FCP production). Several other factors such as disease burden, appetite loss, disordered eating, and other associated symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea contribute to malnutrition with a negative impact on IBD patients’ quality of life. Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
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