Medical and nutritional aspects of intractable diarrhea

• Published in: Journal of the American Dietetic Association Vol. 76; no. 2; pp. 161 - 169
• Main Authors: Chernoff, Ronni, Dean, Joe A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.02.1980
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Celiac Disease - diet therapy; Chronic Disease; Crohn Disease - diet therapy; diarrhea; Diarrhea - diet therapy; Diarrhea - etiology; Diarrhea - physiopathology; diet; diet therapy; Diets for special conditions; digestive system diseases; Diverticulum, Colon - diet therapy; Dumping Syndrome - diet therapy; Female; Gastrointestinal Diseases - complications; Gastrointestinal Motility; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Pancreatic Diseases - diet therapy; treatment; Water-Electrolyte Balance
• DOI: 10.1016/S0002-8223(21)05131-2
• ISSN: 0002-8223

Diarrhea is the result of at least 3 major types of mechanisms working separately or in concert. Diarrhea may be classified as watery, fatty, or small-volume. Watery diarrhea is due to an excessive volume of water delivered to the colon and rectum and is caused by increased levels of water and electrolytes. Fatty diarrhea results from either maldigestion or malabsorption. Small-volume diarrhea is predominantly secondary to irritation of the rectosigmoid area of the colon and can lead to inflammation of the colon. This condition is potentially the most serious of the three resulting in protein-calorie malnutrition, deficiencies, and weight loss. While each disease requires specific therapies, major dietary/nutritional recommendations of low fat, high protein and carbohydrate diets are similar.