Enteral Nutrition Therapy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Enteral nutrition therapy (ENT) is a dietary treatment for some children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), most often Crohn's disease. ENT uses formula as medicine. It can be used alone for treatment or with medications. The healthcare team will decide how to include ENT in the treatment plan. The goal of ENT is to achieve remission, which means having no signs or symptoms of the disease, and to help heal the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

How enteral nutrition therapy works

With ENT, 80-100% of daily calories come from a nutritionally complete formula. The rest of the calories come from food. This is called partial or exclusive ENT. ENT is an effective method for healing the GI tract. Researchers are still studying how ENT works in the body.

Ways to take enteral nutrition therapy

Formula can be taken by mouth during the day or given through a nasogastric (NG) tube with a feeding pump. An NG tube is a small, soft tube that goes in through the nose, down the food pipe, and into the stomach. The NG tube can stay in place for several weeks or be inserted each night. The method used to take in the formula depends on personal preference and discussions with the healthcare team.

Starting enteral nutrition therapy

The dietitian and GI healthcare provider will create a plan to slowly increase the amount of formula over several days to reach the goal amount. This goal depends on the number of calories from formula and food. If using an NG tube with a feeding pump, education is available at the Family Learning Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Main Campus in Philadelphia. Education may also be provided during a short hospital stay, if recommended. If taking formula by mouth, ENT can often be started at home.

Time to see results

It usually takes 6-12 weeks of ENT to notice improvement. Weight gain may happen earlier. After 6-12 weeks, the healthcare team will check how the body is responding by looking at overall health. If the response is good, ENT may be modified to be used for long-term treatment.

Vitamin and mineral supplements

Most vitamin and mineral needs are met through formula and food. It is usually recommended to stop taking multivitamins and calcium supplements. The GI healthcare provider and dietitian may suggest additional supplements if needed.

Reviewed February 2025 by Jamie Scaramuzzi, BSN, RN, CPN and Natalie Stoner, RD