Navigating Medical Nutrition Therapy for Crohn's Disease

This webinar was presented on June 10, 2020.

This webinar will describe the scientific evidence of the relationship between environment, genetics, and the microbiome in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease. Several components of "western" diets have been linked to inflammation in animal models, but what about in humans?

With a paucity of strong data in this area, clinicians must use limited scientific data and clinical judgment to make practical recommendations for MNT on a case-by-case basis. This presentation will cover therapies currently under investigation for treatment of CD; related symptoms and nutritional sustenance; exclusive enteral nutrition; and targeted diet interventions, including the specific carbohydrate diet, the Crohn's disease elimination diet, and the low FODMAP diet.

Patients with CD can require nutrition support beyond an oral diet. Indications for enteral and parenteral nutrition support, hydration, and long term monitoring of patients with complex nutrition issues will be covered to allow the clinician to effectively manage CD across the spectrum of disease severity.

CPE Level: 2
CPEU: 1.0
Learning Need Codes: 5220, 5440, 9020

Performance Indicators:

• 8.3.6 Keeps abreast of current nutrition and dietetics knowledge and trends.
• 8.1.1 Interprets and applies evidence-based comparative standards for determining nutritional needs.
• 10.2.8 Establishes the plan of care, directly addressing the nutrition diagnosis in collaboration with the patient in defining the time, frequency and duration of the intervention.

Learning Objectives

1. Outline the basic pathogenesis of Crohn's disease and explain why scientists focus on diet as the genesis of inflammation.
2. Identify the evidence for medical nutrition therapies currently under investigation to induce and maintain remission of inflammation in those with Crohn’s disease.
3. Describe the indications for advanced nutrition support and monitoring parameters for patients with severe inflammation related to CD.

Speaker

Elizabeth Wall, MS, RDN-AP, CNSC

Elizabeth Wall, MS, RDN-AP, CNSC is an adult GI/Nutrition Support dietitian at The University of Chicago Medicine. Her scope of practice includes management of patients who require parenteral nutrition support as well as the provision of MNT for patients with inflammatory bowel disease, malabsorptive disorders, and short bowel syndrome/intestinal failure. In addition to her clinical responsibilities Elizabeth is an active participant in three human research protocols; use of teduglutide in parenteral dependent short bowel syndrome, downstream revenue of a nutrition support service, and biomarkers of abnormal liver function in long-term PN patients.

Elizabeth serves as a faculty member of the DNS Advance Practice Residency and Part-time faculty at DePaul University, teaching adult learners the basics of nutrition science. Elizabeth is an author of multiple book chapters, journal publications and has presented at previous FNCE, ASPEN, and ESPEN symposia.