Medical nutrition therapy for adult intestinal failure: A review of current perspectives.

Intestinal failure (IF) is a clinical condition resulting from intestinal resection or disease-associated malabsorption or dysmotility. It is characterized by the reduction of functional gut capacity below the minimum needed for adequate digestion and absorption of nutrients. The priority of management is maintaining optimal nutritional and metabolic support until maximum bowel adaptation. The nutritional intervention is the cornerstone of treatment for IF, incorporating the parenteral nutrition (PN) support, enteral nutrition (EN) and oral feeding regimen. The individualized nutritional strategy requires a multidisciplinary approach and should be tailored to the specific pathophysiological characteristics.