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Dietary Advice for Chronic Gastrointestinal Disease

People with these conditions may experience weight loss and abdominal symptoms including pain in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, bloating, excess wind, heartburn and change in bowel habit such as diarrhoea (frequent or loose bowel motions, sometimes with blood and mucus) or constipation.

The symptoms and their severity vary from person to person and may worsen or improve over time. Fatigue and tiredness are also common symptoms. Many important nutrients such as vitamins and minerals fail to be absorbed normally. Deficiencies of iron, folate and vitamin B12 can result in anaemia (low red blood count), vitamin D deficiency can lead to thinning of the bones and vitamin K deficiency can lead to bruising. Dehydration and losses of important nutrients such as sodium, potassium, magnesium and zinc can have serious consequences. Other problems include weight loss, growth failure or delayed puberty in children and low blood protein levels which can lead to swelling in the tissues, particularly in the legs.

Facts About Dietary Advice for
Chronic Gastrointestinal Disease
First Edition 2007

Contents

• What are the gastro-intestinal conditions that can have poor nutrition?
• What are the symptoms of these conditions?
• Factors contributing to poor nutrition
• Symptom management

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