Enteral nutrition therapy associated with clinical remission in 60% of Chinese inflammatory bowel disease patients over 6 weeks
Photo by National Cancer Institute / Unsplash
Key Takeaway
Consider enteral nutrition as a complementary strategy for inflammatory bowel disease, noting associations require prospective confirmation.
This retrospective cohort study examined 750 Chinese patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis who received enteral nutrition therapy. The follow-up period was 6 ± 2 weeks. The primary outcome was clinical remission, while secondary outcomes included nutritional markers, inflammatory indices, and quality of life.
Approximately 60% of patients achieved clinical remission. Remission rates were 62.5% for Crohn's disease versus 57.1% for ulcerative colitis. Improvements were observed in BMI, albumin, hemoglobin, CRP levels, and IBDQ scores. Full adherence was independently associated with higher odds of remission, with an odds ratio of 2.15 and a p-value less than 0.001. Longer enteral nutrition duration greater than 6 weeks was also independently associated with higher odds of remission.
Minor adverse effects occurred in 8% of patients. No serious adverse events were reported. The study design is retrospective, which limits causal inference. Prospective randomized trials are needed to confirm these associations and standardize protocols. Generalizability beyond Chinese inflammatory bowel disease patients is uncertain.
Enteral nutrition therapy supports a potential role as a complementary strategy in inflammatory bowel disease management. However, clinicians should interpret these findings cautiously given the observational nature of the evidence.
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View Original Abstract ↓
BackgroundEnteral nutrition (EN) is essential for Inflammatory Bowel Disease treatment. This applies mainly to Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. The study evaluated the impact of EN treatment on clinical, nutritional, inflammatory, and quality of life outcomes in IBD patients. This study aimed to examine the association between EN therapy’s clinical, nutritional, inflammatory, and Quality of Life (QoL) effects on Inflammatory Bowel Disease patients.MethodsA retrospective study investigated 750 Chinese IBD patients. These patients had 400 CD and 350 UC diagnoses. Medical records provided data. EN formula, administration, calorie density, and duration were studied along with disease activity, nutritional markers including hemoglobin, albumin, and body mass index, and inflammatory indices like erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Validated IBDQ measures quality of life. Clinical remission was defined as a Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI) score < 150 for CD patients and a Mayo score ≤ 2 (with no individual subscore > 1) for UC patients, assessed after completion of EN therapy. Chi-square and t-tests were used for statistical analysis, with a significance level of p < 0.05.ResultsBaseline characteristics of 750 patients are comparable between groups. Elemental and semi-elemental formulas were more frequently prescribed in CD patients and were associated with higher caloric and protein intake (p < 0.05). Approximately 60% of patients achieved clinical remission after 6 ± 2 weeks of EN therapy (62.5% CD vs. 57.1% UC). Improvements in BMI, albumin, hemoglobin, and CRP were observed in patients receiving EN, along with increased IBDQ scores. Adverse effects were minor (8%). Full adherence (OR = 2.15, p < 0.001) and longer EN duration (>6 weeks) were independently associated with higher odds of remission and QoL improvement.ConclusionEN therapy corresponded with clinical remission, improved nutritional markers, and reduced inflammation in IBD patients, particularly those with CD. These findings support the potential role of EN as a complementary strategy in IBD management; however, prospective randomized trials are further confirming these associations and standardize therapeutic protocols.
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