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Nutritional therapy in pediatric Crohn disease: the specific carbohydrate diet.

Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition
January 1, 2014
David L Suskind et al. (5 authors)
Journal ArticleHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the potential therapeutic effects of the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) in pediatric patients with Crohn disease, focusing on symptom resolution and laboratory improvements.

Results Summary

All seven children showed resolution of symptoms by 3 months after starting SCD, with significant improvements in laboratory indices such as serum albumin, C-reactive protein, hematocrit, and stool calprotectin. The study suggests SCD may be a viable dietary therapy for pediatric Crohn disease, though further prospective studies are needed.

Population

Pediatric patients with Crohn disease (n=7) not receiving immunosuppressive medications.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

5 to 30 months (average 14.6±10.8 months)

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (8)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN)
neutral
pediatric Crohn disease
pediatric Crohn disease
-
has an established role
#1
dietary therapies focusing on the elimination of specific complex carbohydrates
neutral
-
-
-
anecdotally reported to be successful
#2
specific carbohydrate diet (SCD)
decrease
symptoms
children with Crohn disease
-
symptoms were notably resolved
#3
specific carbohydrate diet (SCD)
increase
serum albumin
children with Crohn disease
-
normalized or significantly improved
#4
specific carbohydrate diet (SCD)
decrease
C-reactive protein
children with Crohn disease
-
normalized or significantly improved
#5
specific carbohydrate diet (SCD)
increase
hematocrit
children with Crohn disease
-
normalized or significantly improved
#6
specific carbohydrate diet (SCD)
decrease
stool calprotectin
children with Crohn disease
-
normalized or significantly improved
#7
SCD and other low complex carbohydrate diets
neutral
pediatric Crohn disease
pediatric Crohn disease
-
may be possible therapeutic options
#8
Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Crohn disease is characterized by chronic intestinal inflammation in the absence of a recognized etiology. Nutritional therapy in the form of exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) has an established role within pediatric Crohn disease. Following exclusive enteral nutrition's success, many dietary therapies focusing on the elimination of specific complex carbohydrates have been anecdotally reported to be successful. METHODS: Many of these therapies have not been evaluated scientifically; therefore, we reviewed the medical records of our patients with Crohn disease on the specific carbohydrate diet (SCD). RESULTS: Seven children with Crohn disease receiving the SCD and no immunosuppressive medications were retrospectively evaluated. Duration of the dietary therapy ranged from 5 to 30 months, with an average of 14.6±10.8 months. Although the exact time of symptom resolution could not be determined through chart review, all symptoms were notably resolved at a routine clinic visit 3 months after initiating the diet. Each patient's laboratory indices, including serum albumin, C-reactive protein, hematocrit, and stool calprotectin, either normalized or significantly, improved during follow-up clinic visits. CONCLUSIONS: This chart review suggests that the SCD and other low complex carbohydrate diets may be possible therapeutic options for pediatric Crohn disease. Further prospective studies are required to fully assess the safety and efficacy of the SCD, or any other low complex SCDs in pediatric patients with Crohn disease.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AdolescentC-Reactive ProteinChildCrohn DiseaseDietary CarbohydratesEdible GrainEnteral NutritionFemaleHematocritHumansLeukocyte L1 Antigen ComplexMaleRetrospective StudiesSerum Albumin
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy75/10
Quality60/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations109
Citations/Year9.9
Relative Citation Ratio4.13
NIH Percentile90.6%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.95
Weight Score0.78
Normalized Score0.62