Treatment

Treatment can help suppress the inflammatory response and manage symptoms. A treatment plan for ulcerative colitis includes:

• Diet and nutrition
• Medications
• Surgery (when necessary)

Diet and Nutrition

Malnutrition may occur in ulcerative colitis, although it tends to be less severe than with Crohn’s disease. Patients with ulcerative colitis may experience reduced appetite and weight loss.

Patients should strive to eat a well-balanced healthy diet and focus on getting enough calories, protein, and essential nutrients from a variety of food groups. These include protein sources such as meat, chicken, fish or soy; dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and cheese (if the patient is not lactose-intolerant); and fruits and vegetables.

Depending on your nutritional status, your doctor may recommend that you take a multivitamin or iron supplement. Other types of dietary supplements, such as probiotics (“healthy bacteria” like lactobacilli), are being investigated for ulcerative colitis. Studies suggest that probiotics do not help much for remission, but they may have modest effects for reducing disease activity and improving symptoms in people with mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis.

Certain types of foods may worsen diarrhea and gas symptoms, especially during times of active disease. While people vary in their individual sensitivity to foods, general guidelines for dietary management during active disease include:

• Eat small amounts of food throughout the day.
• Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water (frequent consumption of small amounts throughout the day).
• Eat soft, bland foods and avoid spicy foods.
• Avoid high-fiber foods (bran, beans, nuts, seeds, and popcorn).
• Avoid fatty greasy or fried foods and sauces (butter, margarine, and heavy cream).
• Limit milk products if you are lactose intolerant (or consider taking a lactase supplement to improve tolerance). Otherwise, dairy products are a good source of protein and calcium.
• Avoid or limit alcohol and caffeine consumption.

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Ulcerative Colitis Diagnosis

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Ulcerative Colitis Medications

Review Date: 09/28/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)