Specific carbohydrate diet for pediatric inflammatory bowel disease in clinical practice within an academic IBD center.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the potential effects of the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) on clinical outcomes and laboratory studies in pediatric patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).
Results Summary
The study found that SCD improved clinical outcomes, with significant reductions in disease activity indices for both CD and UC patients over time. However, the results were more consistent for CD than UC, and the study noted the need for further prospective research.
Population
Pediatric patients with Crohn's disease (n=20) and ulcerative colitis (n=6).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
3 to 48 months
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
specific carbohydrate diet (SCD) | decrease | Pediatric Crohn's Disease activity index (PCDAI) | patients with active Crohn's disease (Pediatric Crohn's Disease activity index [PCDAI] >10) | from 32.8 ± 13.2 at baseline to 20.8 ± 16.6 by 4 ± 2 wk | dropped | #1 |
specific carbohydrate diet (SCD) | decrease | Pediatric Crohn's Disease activity index (PCDAI) | patients with active Crohn's disease (Pediatric Crohn's Disease activity index [PCDAI] >10) | from 32.8 ± 13.2 at baseline to 8.8 ± 8.5 by 6 mo | dropped | #2 |
specific carbohydrate diet (SCD) | decrease | Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index | patients with active ulcerative colitis | from a baseline of 28.3 ± 10.3 to 20.0 ± 17.3 at 4 ± 2 wk | decreased | #3 |
specific carbohydrate diet (SCD) | decrease | Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index | patients with active ulcerative colitis | from a baseline of 28.3 ± 10.3 to 18.3 ± 31.7 at 6 mo | decreased | #4 |
specific carbohydrate diet (SCD) | increase | clinical and laboratory parameters | pediatric patients with nonstructuring, nonpenetrating Crohn's disease as well as ulcerative colitis | - | may improve | #5 |
OBJECTIVE: Despite dietary factors being implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), nutritional therapy, outside of exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN), has not had a defined role within the treatment paradigm of pediatric IBD within IBD centers. Based on emerging data, Seattle Children's Hospital IBD Center has developed an integrated dietary program incorporating the specific carbohydrate diet (SCD) into its treatment paradigm. This treatment paradigm uses the SCD as primary therapy as well as adjunctive therapy for the treatment of IBD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential effects of the SCD on clinical outcomes and laboratory studies of pediatric patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS: In this retrospective study, we reviewed the medical records of patients with IBD on SCD. RESULTS: We analyzed 26 children on the SCD: 20 with CD and 6 with UC. Duration of the dietary therapy ranged from 3 to 48 mo. In patients with active CD (Pediatric Crohn's Disease activity index [PCDAI] >10), PCDAI dropped from 32.8 ± 13.2 at baseline to 20.8 ± 16.6 by 4 ± 2 wk, and to 8.8 ± 8.5 by 6 mo. The mean Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index for patients with active UC decreased from a baseline of 28.3 ± 10.3 to 20.0 ± 17.3 at 4 ± 2 wk, to 18.3 ± 31.7 at 6 mo. CONCLUSION: This retrospective review provides evidence that the SCD can be integrated into a tertiary care center and may improve clinical and laboratory parameters for pediatric patients with nonstructuring, nonpenetrating CD as well as UC. Further prospective studies are needed to fully assess the safety and efficacy of the SCD in pediatric patients with IBD.