|  | Conditions Treatments | Digestive Health

Small Bowel Syndrome Diet

Small, or short, bowel syndrome is a condition that affects patients following surgery involving removal of a portion of the small intestine. When it occurs, nutrient absorption is negatively affected throughout the digestive tract, leading to symptoms such as chronic diarrhea. Treating this occurrence through manipulation of the diet ensures that you will be providing your body with sufficient nutrients for proper functioning.

  1. Small Bowel Syndrome

    • Small bowel syndrome is a condition that only affects individuals who have undergone surgical procedures to have a portion of their small intestine removed. This procedure is typically performed to treat individuals who have chronic diseases of the digestive tract, such as Crohn's. Removing a part of the small intestine may improve life in some ways, but does trade one condition for another, as the patient will now be afflicted with SBS instead of their original disease.

    Small Bowel Syndrome and Diet Theory

    • Removing a portion of the digestive tract can cause a number of problems, including diarrhea and malabsorption. These conditions occur because, as the digestive tract has been artificially shortened, so too has the digestive process, resulting in the body having less time to digest food. A proper diet to treat SBS will address both of these issues, increasing nutritional intake to offset the loss due to malabsorption, affording you the best opportunity to lead a somewhat normal life.

    Small Bowel Syndrome and Diet Recommendations

    • Research by Dr. Khursheed N. Jeejeebhoy M.D., a practitioner at the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto, suggests a specific solid food diet for individuals suffering from SBS. To control diarrhea, Dr. Jeejeebhoy recommends a balanced diet with heavy restriction of lactose intake. To offset malabsorption, you will need to consume far more calories than you are accustomed to---thus, begin your diet by increasing your daily calories by 20 to 30 percent over normal.

    Sample Meal

    • To ensure a balanced diet, each meal should consist of a whole grain, a fruit, a vegetable, a protein source and some healthy fat. A good sample meal encompassing all of these items would be something like grilled salmon (protein and healthy fat) served with a garden salad (vegetables) with brown rice (whole grain) and fresh berries (fruits). Remember to increase your portions correspondingly to offset the reduced level of absorption from your newly shortened intestine.

    Considerations

    • Although you should begin your SBS diet looking to consume roughly 20 to 30 percent more calories than normal, that level might be insufficient depending on your degree of malabsorption. If you find yourself suffering from symptoms of malnourishment, such as low energy levels and chronic fatigue, consider increasing your calories incrementally until you find a level that provides your body with sufficient sustenance. Aiming to increase your calories by 5 to 10 percent per week until your symptoms diminish is a reasonable way to self-monitor your condition.

Digestive Health - Related Articles