Clinical importance of n-3 fatty acid-rich diet and nutritional education for the maintenance of remission in Crohn's disease

Abstract:

Elemental diet (ED) therapy has been established as primary therapy for Crohn's disease, and home enteral nutrition (HEN) has been reported to control relapse at a dose of more than 30 kcal/kg of ideal body weight. However, a decrease in ED compliance with long-term use is becoming problem. We developed an n-3 fatty acid-rich diet and carried out nutritional education specifically for Crohn's disease patients using HEN to facilitate compliance and to improve their nutritional status. After the introduction of this n-3 rich diet, disease activity was not altered, and nutritional status, especially serum n-3 fatty acid levels, improved. The remission periods in patients with poor compliance seemed to be prolonged by the nutritional education. Thus, a n-3 rich diet in combination with nutritional education specific for Crohn's disease patients is very important for the in maintenance of high compliance and for maintaining nutritional balance.