Nutritional Monitoring and Intervention in Paediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract

Paediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease (PIBD), encompassing Crohn’s Disease (CD), Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and IBD-Unclassified (IBDU), onsets during a critical window for growth, pubertal development, and bone accrual, making nutrition a primary, disease-modifying component of care rather than a purely supportive one. This review summarises current evidence and clinical experience on nutritional assessment, monitoring, and dietary treatment in PIBD. Malnutrition, growth faltering and micronutrient deficiency are common at diagnosis and during flares, and the interpretation of biochemical markers is complicated by systemic inflammation, hence requiring a combined dietary, biochemical, and clinical approach. Exclusive Enteral Nutrition (EEN) remains the first-line induction therapy for mild-moderate Crohn’s Disease, achieving remission in 60–80% of patients, although its restrictive, liquid-only nature limits long-term adherence. Food-based alternatives including the Crohn’s Disease Exclusion Diet with partial enteral nutrition, CD-TREAT, and the “Tasty and Healthy” diet offer comparable induction efficacy with improved palatability and adherence in appropriately selected patients. Maintenance strategies, including cyclic EEN, dose-dependent partial enteral nutrition, and adjunct therapies such as curcumin may have a role in selected patients, and are discussed alongside emerging evidence on emulsifiers, fibre, and the Mediterranean diet. Selecting an appropriate therapy requires balancing disease severity against patient motivation, family support, and other pragmatic and lifestyle factors. Psychological and quality-of-life dimensions of dietary therapy require consideration, underscoring the need for individualised care that protects both nutritional status, child’s relationship with food and overall wellbeing.