Nutritional therapy in pediatric Crohn disease: the specific carbohydrate diet.
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
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
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.