This study aims to explore the effectiveness of a goal setting based systematic nutritional support strategy in enteral nutrition (EN) for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

A prospective randomized controlled trial design was used to select 80 patients diagnosed with IBD and receiving EN treatment in the gastroenterology department of a tertiary hospital from June 2023 to June 2024. Patients were randomly divided into an intervention group (receiving a goal based systematic nutritional support strategy) and a control group (receiving routine EN management). The main outcome measures include nutritional status (weight, serum albumin, etc.), disease activity, and quality of life.

The intervention group was significantly better than the control group in improving nutritional status, reducing disease activity (p<0.01), and improving quality of life (p<0.05). In addition, the proportion of patients with improved weight and biochemical indicators in the intervention group was significantly higher than that in the control group, and the patients' acceptance and compliance with enteral nutrition and quality of life were significantly improved.

The goal setting based systematic nutritional support strategy is effective in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, and can significantly improve their nutritional status and quality of life. In the future, further exploration of the application effect of this strategy in clinical settings is needed.

This study provides robust evidence that implementing a structured, goal-setting-based nutritional support strategy yields superior clinical outcomes for IBD patients on enteral nutrition compared to conventional approaches. The significant improvements observed in nutritional status, disease activity reduction, and quality of life underscore the value of personalized, goal-directed nutritional interventions in IBD management. These findings have important implications for clinical practice, suggesting that standard EN protocols should incorporate systematic goal-setting components. Future research should focus on: (1) long-term outcome assessment, (2) cost-effectiveness analysis, (3) protocol optimization for different IBD subtypes, and (4) implementation strategies across diverse healthcare settings. The development of standardized guidelines for goal-setting in nutritional therapy could potentially transform the management of IBD patients requiring nutritional support.

Forbes A, et al. Clin Nutr. 2021;40(5):3506-15.