Acute colitis, also called ulcerative colitis, is a form of inflammatory bowel disease. Colitis is a chronic digestive disorder characterized by a sudden, unpredictable bout of diarrhea and abdominal pain. Diet is not the cause of colitis, but dietary modifications can help control the symptoms. If you have colitis you should consult your physician for dietary changes or a referral to a dietitian.
Symptoms
According to an article in the May 2003 issue of nursing journal RN, symptoms of ulcerative colitis can vary in severity. Patients with mild colitis will typically present with a gradual onset of diarrhea and intermittent rectal bleeding. Diarrhea becomes more frequent and bleeding is more evident with moderate colitis. Patients with severe colitis will generally have severe abdominal pain with more than six bloody bowel movements per day. As a result of the diarrhea and bleeding, patients will develop anemia and impaired nutrition.
Food Triggers
In a May 2010 article in Better Nutrition, Ligaya Figueras asserts that patients should be aware of foods that are noted for increasing symptoms and causing problems. The foods that most commonly cause problems for patients with colitis include those high in fiber, greasy or fried foods, products that contain caffeine, dairy and spicy foods. You should try foods that are suspected of increasing colitis symptoms in small amounts to determine tolerance levels. Authors Carroll Lutz and Karen Przytulski share in their book, "Nutrition and Diet Therapy," that patients with colitis have reported that bananas, carrots and potatoes, rice and roast chicken did not worsen the symptoms and made them feel good.
Dietary Recommendations
Patients who have ulcerative colitis are not able to absorb certain nutrients or vitamins resulting in malnutrition. Ensuring that patients with colitis maintain an adequate intake of calories and nutrients is essential in preventing further complications. Proteins from meats, fish, poultry and eggs are recommended. Fruits and vegetables cooked, without skin or seeds, are generally well tolerated. Consuming adequate fluids is important for patients with ulcerative colitis. Figueras recommends eight to 10 glasses of fluid per day in "Better Nutrition."
Nutritional Deficiencies
Ulcerative colitis patients are deficient in vitamins A, C, D, E, K and B12 due to malabsorption, which describes a condition where nutrients consumed fail to be properly absorbed into the bloodstream. Iron, magnesium, calcium and phosphate levels are also affected. When vitamin B12 is not adequately absorbed, carbohydrates, proteins and fats cannot be adequately metabolized and the risk of malnutrition increases.
Dietary Supplements
During periods of excessive diarrhea, you may need dietary supplements, particularly vitamin B12, calcium, magnesium and potassium. Some patients may require intravenous nutrition during acute episodes. The overall nutritional recommendations for patients with colitis are individualized based on the extent of the disease. According to "Nutrition and Diet Therapy," to maintain nutritional status, you should not eliminate any of these foods from your diet without a fair trial.
References
- RN; Defenses gone awry: Inflammatory bowel disease; J. Veroonesi; May 2003
- Better Nutrition: Nutritional Rx for Crohn's and Colitis; Figueras; May 2010
- Nutrition and Diet Therapy; C. Lutz & K. Przytulski; 2011
