Exclusive Elemental Nutrition (EEN) has been studied extensively worldwide and has been scientifically proven to be more effective than steroids in achieving sustained remission from IBD flares in most cases. It refers to an exclusive liquid diet using either elemental or polymeric formulae. The patients are not allowed to have any other dietary items except plain water and sometimes a few other beverages.

EEN is safer, and can be easier to endure, than the side effects of steroids. It is a first-line treatment for IBD flares in Japan and in some European countries. It does require close medical supervision, especially when practiced by pediatric patients.

Why EEN works

EEN allows an inflamed bowel to rest and recover while providing easily absorbed nutrients and antioxidants. It also seems to reduce the antigenic load and modify gut flora.

EEN is also an ideal transition from handling a flare to a long-term maintenance diet therapy like SCD.

While the benefits of EEN are significant, there are some challenges

1. The standard EEN formulas include ingredients that are far from optimal, like corn syrup, sugar, soy, and dairy proteins. However, despite these shortcomings, these products have been studied extensively and have a proven track record in bringing individuals into remission.
2. It can be very expensive. Insurance will usually cover the cost of nasal gastric (NG) tube feeding, but not the cost of drinkable formulas. The nonstandard formulas, like the popular Orgain, also contain many ingredients that are not optimal, but are marketed as a healthier version of formula. They are GMO-free, organic, etc. The main problem with the nonstandard formulas is the lack of clinical studies that demonstrate remission of symptoms and mucosal healing. For this reason, this option is never covered by insurance.
3. Some research has shown that while EEN is effective in achieving remission, the post EEN gut microbiome is less diverse and some relapse may occur in some cases. The researchers suggest using post diet probiotics. It is worth noting that following EEN with diets like SCD may be an ideal way to address this challenge, since SCD restores and maintains a healthy gut microbiome.
4. EEN presents personal challenges, and it is not easy to do physically, psychologically and socially. Avoiding all solid foods for a minimum of 8 weeks is difficult. It is also hard to consume all the required daily number of calories without feeling bloated or nauseated.
5. While EEN is very safe and has no side effects, it may increase the risk for dental cavities due to its high sugar content. 

Example of popular EEN products

EEN is available as a polymeric or an elemental formula. It can be consumed as a drink or administered via NG tube. The more ‘broken down’ the protein is to elemental amino acids, the easier it is to digest but the worse the formula tastes.

• Ensure Plusis widely used in the USA and declared as the tastiest, in the eyes of some kids.
• Orgain like all other enteral liquids, it is not SCD legal, but parents love it because it is non-GMO and organic. It can be purchased at Whole Foods, CVS, Amazon, and Costco. Orgain has a dairy and a vegan option. The premade Orgain drinks are easy to carry around.
• Pediasure Peptide is a completely peptide based formula, but there is a concern about the sugar and soy it contains. Pediasure Peptide is also extremely cost prohibitive.
• Boost or Boost Plus are not completely broken down into peptiides, but are cheaper than Pediasure and can be as effective in most cases.
• Peptamen it is not flavored and taken only via NG tube, which can be uncomfortable to some, but works great to calm the gut and help gain weight. The proteins are broken down into amino acids so it is very easy to absorb in an inflamed gut.
• Modulen IBD is a product that is not readily available in USA, so parents order it from Canada. It’s made by Nestle and used routinely in other countries.
• Elecare has ingredients that are different than Ensure, Boost, Pediasure, etc. and some kids prefer this flavor. Consuming enough calories is less of a struggle when kids like it. Elecare can be purchased on Amazon, but is very expensive.
• There currently is no EEN liquid that is SCD legal. Some parents try to make their own using amino acid powders, combined with juice, oil and vitamins, but it usually does not taste good and it is hard to use effectively. Some parents have tried the SIBO formula  , but it is unappealing and almost impossible to convince kids to drink it.
• Liquified SCD may prove a worthwhile option. It includes pulverized soups, broth, smoothies, fruit and vegetable juices, fresh squeezed greens with apple cider vinegar or lemon, etc.

When food is being chewed there are larger food particles that the gut has to break, but when food arrives to the gut already pulverized, it requires less digestive effort in the gut. For this reason, liquefied SCD may also provide bowel rest, similar to the commercial EEN products provide, but without the undesired additives.
However, some parents may be concerned about the high fiber content in liquefied SCD, since fiber may irritate an injured gut. In comparison, EEN products contain little to no fiber, to avoid challenging an inflamed gut.

Our personal experience with EEN

We used medically supervised EEN immediately following the Crohns diagnosis of our son. We are forever grateful to Dr. Ghassan Wahbeh, Professor of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at Seattle Children’s Hospital, who allowed us to use EEN instead of steroids under his supervision.

It was hard, and far from perfect, but EEN allowed us to avoid steroids and worked very well to achieve remission from symptoms and gradual improvements in inflammation markers. Our son spent 8 weeks without any solid foods, drinking 8-12 bottles of Ensure or Boost daily. He was in 6th grade and attended a public school where he was surrounded daily by pizza, candies and birthday cakes. His teacher loved food treats as part of the class curriculum… But he was strong and determined to do whatever he could to avoid the excruciating pain he had experienced before diagnosis. The elemental liquids triggered nausea and bloating, and after 8 weeks he just couldn’t fathom the thought of another day on EEN. His lab work improved, but was not yet normal. All blood inflammation markers were down but Dr. Wahbeh was not satisfied with low inflammation, demanding NO inflammation. This led us to transition from EEN to SCD.

This combination of EEN followed by SCD was not known when we used it years ago. It was our idea and our doctors were not supportive of SCD in the first few years. It proved to be a blessing, and allowed us to become the family that brought SCD to Seattle Children’s Hospital and to the attention of Dr. David Suskind. (see our story link)

Experienced shared by other parents

Finding liquid nutrition that our child can tolerate well for several weeks was a challenge. We experienced symptoms like bloating, nauseous, cramps, diarrhea… it was hard to maintain EEN for the needed length of time. Elecare was the only liquid our child could tolerate as a drink. Ideally, the GI team can provide different samples of EEN products to help find the best option, but sometimes it takes perseverance from parents to find the best formula for their child.

There is an adjustment period to liquid formula, so it’s tough to know if it is a reaction to ingredients or whether the bloating/discomfort are due to adjustments in the first couple of days.

Our strategy to get enough calories was to add night tube feedings. It was difficult getting the child to drink large volumes of formula every day for weeks at a time. EEN via a feeding tube definitely makes it easier to get the nutrition in. Some kids adjust to the tube fast and learn to insert it by themselves every evening, but for others the tube can be uncomfortable or create emotional and social challenge.

My child is tolerating Elecare Jr Vanilla almost exclusively. It is bland and plain, but you can flavor it. It comes in a can of powder, and is easy to mix. We mixed it in water in shaker cup with wire ball in it. We used ice water in the blender to mix it to a smoothie texture.

We made our own EEN by using the Allison Siebecker’s SIBO self-made formula. We ordered the protein from JoMar Labs and mixed in honey for carbohydrate. For the oil, we used Brain Octane Oil (BulletProof product of MCT from coconut oil).

Our son seemed worse on the Modulen drinks. His symptoms were worse than before: tummy pains after having the drinks, high temp, darker eyes, feeling exhausted. I have a gut feeling it’s not agreeing with him but the doctors won’t listen. They say its totally hypoallergenic so it shouldn’t cause any problems . We will check other types of EEN.

We ordered Absorb Plus product. The carb component is coming from cassava plant, but the corn syrup in Modulen is worst…

We let him place his own feeding tube nightly for night feeds, then pull it each morning. It’s not difficult to do. He got lessons on how to place the feeding tube by himself.

My daughter had an EEN nasal tube at school for a few weeks and she had friends around to protect her. I also was proactive and went to her classroom to explain what she had and why.

We used Peptamen through an NG tube for the first 2 weeks as it is easier to get the needed volume and calories.

My daughter was on EEN exclusively for 5 months before we started SCD. We used Boost Plus. She went into remission without the use of any medications.

My son was on exclusive enteral nutrition for 8 weeks to gain remission. He is now on SCD alone, but not symptom free yet, still working to normalize lab markers.

We chose Modulen IBD (powder in can) due to a study comparing it exclusively for 8 weeks to oral steroids and it showed better mucosal healing. We ordered it from Canada.

Studies and presentations

This study by Prof. Arie Levine, Nutritional Therapy of Crohn’s Disease in Children, in our opinion, is the best presentation about exclusive enteral nutrition as a preferred option to treat flares and achieve remission. 

This study, Enteral Nutrition in Crohn’s Disease: An Underused Therapy, used either elemental or polymeric formulas only. No other food was allowed except water.

Enteral Nutrition in IBD, Amit Assa M.D
Schneider Children‘s Hospital, Tel-Aviv, Israel,

Use of exclusive enteral nutrition in adults with Crohn’s disease: A review, World Journal of Gastroenterology.