Nutrition and immunity in inflammatory diseases of the gut (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis)

Although Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are conditions of unknown e tiology, an inflammatory cascade occurs in the intestine in both diseases. The recent therapeutic advances which have focused on the blockade of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) with a specific antibody and down-regula tion of the inflammatory process utilizing interleukin-10 analogues as trea tment for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are reviewed. Nutritional therapies such as parenteral and enteral nutrition have been shown to have efficacy in the treatment of Crohn's disease, but not ulcerative colitis.