ABSTRACT
The elemental diet (ED) was found to be superior to conventional food and standard drug therapy. EDs have earned a place in the management of several conditions including gastrointestinal fistulas, short gut syndrome pancreatitis, allergies, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome related enteropathies. The first description of acute gastrointestinal ulceration and bleeding after trauma was provided by Celsus around 30 A.D. A better understanding of cellular phenomena and of the interaction between luminal contents and mucosal response has helped to develop a new concept in the management of the intestinal syndrome. Bile and pancreatic proteases have been found to exacerbate the intestinal lesion and decrease survival of irradiated animals. This similarity between radiation and ischemic enteropathies suggested the use of an ED in the prophylaxis of radiation enteropathy. Potential injury by pancreaticobiliary secretions, dietary protein antigenicity, and depressed mucosal peptidases in Crohn's disease all suggested possible benefit by ED feeding in this condition.
