DO ADULT CROHNS-DISEASE PATIENTS IN PROLO NGED REMISSION NEED AN INCREASED PROTEIN-CALORIE INTAKE AS COMPARED TO HEALTHY CONTROLS

Do adult Crohn's disease patients in prolongued remission need an incr eased protein-calorie intake as compared to healthy controls? The aim of our two year prospective study was to evaluate whether adult Crohn' s disease patients in prolonged remission (CDAI < 150), in order to ma intain their body weight as close as possible to the ideal one, need a protein-calorie intake higher than the predicted one and that of heal thy controls. Twenty-four out of 49 Crohn's disease patients in clinic al remission completed the two year prospective study, during which th ey were free to eat ''ad libitum'', in quantity and in quality. Twenty -three of the 24 patients (96%) maintained their body weight > 95% of the ideal one. As compared to predicted intakes, mean calories were -1 2.23 % (= 272 +/- 91 Kcal/day) lower (P < 0.01), and proteins +40.6% ( 20.16 +/- 13.6 g/day ; = 0.32 g/kg b.w./day) higher (p < 0.001). Prote in-calorie intake and glycolipidic ratio were comparable to those of h ealthy controls (p = n.s.). In the group of patients who had a relapse during the follow-up, 9 out of 25 were found to be underweight at the onset of the survey. Their protein-calorie intake was equivalent to t hat of subjects who completed the study. We conclude that adult Crohn' s disease patients in prolonged remission maintain their ideal body we ight by a protein-calorie intake comparable to that of healthy populat ion and do not need a tailored regimen.