Essay on Elemental Diet

A Brief Overview of the Elemental Diet

A medicinal liquid diet called the elemental diet is used to assist patients in recovering from conditions like Crohn’s disease or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). The name of the diet comes from the fact that nutrients are given to the body in the most basic form possible. When recuperating from a particular condition facilitates digestion and nutrition absorption. People who must follow the diet can choose from several commercial formulations of the elemental diet. The most easily digestible form of nutrients can be absorbed thanks to an elemental diet (Lane et al., 2021). People with severe digestive disorders are the ones who typically utilize it. According to the notion, all nutrients are absorbed in the start of the small intestine. As a result, the big intestine can rest (Lane et al., 2021). Those who adhere to an elemental diet often don’t eat solid food, only elemental formulas. The only additional drinks allowed are water and basic tea, provided they don’t contain any sugar or milk (Warners et al., 2017). This article will learn about the elemental diet’s principles, applications, and possible adverse effects.

Who Would Benefit from the Elemental Diet?

Due to difficulties digesting, absorbing, or tolerating whole foods in patients with various acute, chronic, or hereditary diseases, they may not be able to reach or maintain adequate or optimal energy and macronutrient and micronutrient requirements with a typical oral diet. Elemental diets may be able to enhance the health and nutritional results of patients with feeding challenges, according to increasing clinical evidence. These diets, including peptides, essential fatty acids, medium-chain triglycerides, vitamins, and minerals, are designed to be quickly digested and well-tolerated. Doctors and dietitians can use an elemental diet to treat any of the following conditions:

• Leaky gut syndrome
• SIBO that doesn’t react to antibiotics or herbal therapies
• Inflammatory bowel disease,
• Food allergies that are resistant to other elimination diet strategies
• Pancreatitis
• a patient receiving cancer therapy and recovering
• Cystic fibrosis

Who Should Avoid the Elemental Diet?

The elemental diet has no known religious or cultural constraints at this time. However, people on a diet should be aware of the various contraindications. Low-fat, high-carbohydrate formulae are standard in the elemental diet, and this might cause an increase in blood sugar levels. This means that those with blood sugar control concerns, such as type 2 diabetes, may be at risk for blood sugar dysregulation if they eat an elemental diet, as research suggests avoiding foods high in sugar (Khanna et al., 2017). According to an interview with a medical professional, the elemental diet may also have other contraindications connected to eating problems. As mentioned by Kaczor (2017), assistant nurse Lela Altman found that recommending the elemental diet had a significant likelihood of relapsing among patients previously diagnosed with eating disorders and recovered. In addition, the medical practitioner advises against the primary diet for those trying to lose weight. This diet is misunderstood by many people, resulting in failed weight-loss efforts because of this misinterpretation (Kaczor, 2017). The elemental diet should be avoided by those who fall into these categories.

What Challenges Should You Understand About the Elemental Diet

An elemental diet is highly restrictive and difficult to follow. People, especially children, may find it challenging to go without food for six weeks. Dietary restrictions can also be complex for parents and families who have children on a diet. In this scenario, one issue that those on an elemental diet may face is a shift in lifestyle. A change in food consumption, such as an elemental diet, can be quite emotional and may result in psychological disorders. Furthermore, the unique formulations on an elemental diet may taste unpleasant. This can be highly upsetting, especially for children, making getting sufficient nutrition difficult.

My Clinical Experience With the Elemental Diet

A few months back, I had a patient diagnosed with SIBO but was unsure about the six-week elemental diet she was to follow. Upon not following this diet, the patient continued experiencing issues such as abdominal pain and nausea, among other SIBO symptoms, as research indicates (Rao & Bhagatwala, 2019). When she opted for over-the-counter medication, I recommended she tries it for a few days to see if there were any improvements. This recommendation turned out successful, and the patient fully recovered from SIBO.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the case presented above explains how the elemental diet can be important for those experiencing common digestive conditions. The elemental diet is unrecommended for those with diabetes and eating disorders. While it has common issues such as psychological disturbances and an unpleasant taste, this diet is essential in patients with digestive problems.

References

Kaczor, T. (2017). The Elemental Diet for SIBO and Other Gut Conditions. https://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/podcasts/elemental-diet-sibo-and-other-gut-conditions

Khanna, S., Jaiswal, K. S., & Gupta, B. (2017). Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis with Dietary Interventions. Frontiers in Nutrition, 4, 52. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2017.00052

Lane, A., Dalkie, N., Henderson, L., Irwin, J., & Rostami, K. (2021). An elemental diet is effective in the management of diversion colitis. Gastroenterology and Hepatology From Bed to Bench, 14(1), 81–84.

Rao, S. S. C., & Bhagatwala, J. (2019). Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: Clinical Features and Therapeutic Management. Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology, 10(10), e00078. https://doi.org/10.14309/ctg.0000000000000078

Warners, M. J., Vlieg‐Boerstra, B. J., Verheij, J., van Rhijn, B. D., Van Ampting, M. T. J., Harthoorn, L. F., de Jonge, W. J., Smout, A. J. P. M., & Bredenoord, A. J. (2017). Elemental diet decreases inflammation and improves symptoms in adult eosinophilic oesophagitis patients. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 45(6), 777–787. https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.13953