Nutritional management of inflammatory bowel disease.

Malnutrition and growth failure are frequent complications of inflammatory bowel disease in childhood owing to inadequate dietary nutrient intakes, excessive intestinal losses, malabsorption, and increased nutrient requirements. Aggressive nutritional therapy is indicated for primary and supportive management of disease activity, drug nutrient interactives, individual nutrient abnormalities, and the overall complications of inflammatory bowel disease, malnutrition, and growth failure. The prevention of nutritional disorders in inflammatory bowel disease is accomplished by monitoring anthropometric and biochemical indices and by instituting appropriate enteral or parenteral nutritional therapy when indicated.