A recent study conducted in Canterbury assessed the dietary intakes and the blood micronutrient status of children with Crohn’s disease (CD) compared with their healthy siblings living in the same household.

Analyses compared proportions of children between groups who did not meet the recommended daily intake (RDI) for micronutrients and nutritional blood levels.

Siblings had lower intakes of vitamins A, E, selenium, copper, zinc and iron. Children with CD having partial enteral nutrition had significantly higher intakes of many micronutrients. More than half the participants did not meet the RDI for several micronutrients.

This study tells us that focused dietary education is important and that many children with CD may require extra micronutrient supplements. Ongoing research studies are now focusing on ways to enhance these aspects of nutrition for children with IBD.

Dietary Nutrient Intake and Blood Micronutrient Status of Children with Crohn's Disease Compared with Their Shared-Home Environment, Healthy Siblings. Brown S, Wall CL, Frampton C, Gearry RB, Day AS. Nutrients. 2022;14:3425.