Clinical importance of n-3 fatty acid-rich diet and nutritional education for the maintenance of remission in Crohn's disease

Elemental diet (ED) therapy has been established as primary therapy for Crohn's disease, and home enteral nutrition (HEN) has been reported to control relapse at a dose of more than 30 kcal/kg of ideal body weight. However, a decrease in ED compliance with long-term use is becoming problem. We developed an n-3 fatty acid-rich diet and carried out nutritional education specifically for Crohn's disease patients using HEN to facilitate compliance and to improve their nutritional status. After the introduction of this n-3 rich diet, disease activity was not altered, and nutritional status, especially serum n-3 fatty acid levels, improved. The remission periods in patients with poor compliance seemed to be prolonged by the nutritional education. Thus, a n-3 rich diet in combination with nutritional education specific for Crohn's disease patients is very important for the in maintenance of high compliance and for maintaining nutritional balance.