Elemental diet

From Ganfyd

Diet consisting of nutrients in their elemental form, i.e. simple sugars, amino acids, fatty acids, minerals and vitamins. It requires minimal digestive activity on the part of gut, requiring mostly absorption only. Its therapeutic effect may be a result of:

• 'resting' the gut
• elimination of possible antigenic stimuli from foods
• elimination of possible bacterial metabolites

Often given via nasogastric tube as considered unpalatable.

Has been used as treatment in:

• inflammatory bowel disease
• eosinophilic oesophagitis