Total Parenteral Nutrition and the Function of the Intestinal Microflora in Crohn's Disease

Abstract

The effect of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) on the following six intestinal microflora-associated characteristics (MACs) was studied in patients with Crohn's disease: faecal tryptic activity (FTA), formation of coprostanol, urobilinogen, and deoxycholic acid, and degradation of mucin and beta-aspartylglycine. The FTA showed high levels before TPN, in accordance with previous findings, and decreased during TPN. Formation of coprostanol, urobilinogen, and deoxycholic acid was reduced in some patients, whereas no changes were found in the mucin and beta-aspartylglycine degradation.