Effects of Exclusive Enteral Nutrition on the Microbiome in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2016-08-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Children with Crohn's disease can be effectively treated by remaining on a single-formula
diet for 8 continuous weeks. This dietary therapy is known as "exclusive enteral nutrition"
(EEN). It is just as effective as steroid treatment, which is what's traditionally used for
the initial treatment of Crohn's disease. It is not clear why EEN is an effective treated.
One possibility is that it changes the bacteria in our intestines, which allows the intestine
to heal. It is also unclear whether EEN can be used to treat ulcerative colitis, a disease
that is very similar to Crohn's disease. The purpose of our research project is to determine
whether EEN can be used to treat ulcerative colitis, and understand how the intestinal
bacteria changes while on EEN. Investigators will compare the results to patients who have
either Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, and are receiving standard treatment for their
disease (steroids). This is a pilot study, meaning that the goal of this study is to
determine whether a larger study is feasible. Investigators will measure patient recruitment
rates, whether patients are able to perform the treatment as requested, whether there are any
safety concerns, and whether investigators are able to collect the bloodwork and stool
samples without difficulty.