What Is Medical Nutrition Therapy?

Overview

Nutrition is one of the critical factors affecting our overall health condition and well-being, and a well-balanced and nutritious diet is the foundation of the healthy development of the human body. The nutrients provided with every meal are essential for numerous fundamental processes constantly ongoing in our organisms. Therefore, following a healthy diet brings countless benefits to our health condition. It helps sustain the optimal level of energy and physical performance as well as a healthy body weight. Additionally, proper nutrition serves as a shield against numerous chronic diseases, it improves the immune system but also facilitates the effective management of existing health conditions.¹

Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) was introduced as a new approach to treating various health disorders and diseases based on the beneficial effects of a healthy and balanced diet on overall health.

Medical nutrition therapy

The term medical nutrition therapy (MNT) refers to a new medical approach for the treatment and management of certain health disorders based on an individualised nutrition plan. It aims at reducing the severity of the symptoms and improving the overall health condition of a person through an individually tailored nutrition plan prepared by a registered dietician nutritionist which then needs to be approved by the patient’s doctor. The dietary plan is created with regard to the patient’s individual health condition and needs such as lifestyle, allergies, and nutritional preferences, ensuring its effectiveness in addressing the medical needs of the patient but also the sustainability for long-term health management.²

When might medical nutrition therapy be recommended?

The healthcare provider might recommend MNT to help with the management of chronic health conditions such as diabetes or kidney diseases. In such cases, it might serve as a complementary treatment alongside the appropriate medications or aim at substituting the medicines.

Medical nutrition therapy might be recommended for patients suffering from the following health conditions:

• Diabetes mellitus (Type I, Type II, gestational diabetes) as well as prediabetes. MNT improves the control of glucose levels and helps prevent the long-term complications associated with the disorderObesity: In this case, medical nutrition therapy might help reduce body mass and improve the nutritional status of the patient. Moreover, it has a positive impact on the overall health condition of the person reducing the risk of the development of secondary diseases and health disorders such are hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes.
• Gastrointestinal disorders: Patients suffering from celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), gastroesophageal reflux disease, and many other digestive system disorders might experience symptom relief and improved overall health conditions by following the individualised dietary plan
• Cardiovascular diseases: Medical nutrition therapy can also support the treatment of health conditions affecting the cardiovascular system by optimising cholesterol and triglycerides or managing high blood pressure. Additionally, the personalised dietary approach provided by MNT reduces the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke

The treatment of many other health disorders can be supported by medical nutrition therapy. In some cases, MNT is used for the treatment or prevention of malnutrition by addressing the specific nutritional deficiencies of the individual and restoring or maintaining optimal nutrition levels crucial for their overall health. Moreover, MNT helps manage metabolic disorders and food intolerances, which in many cases require strict dietary regulations. MNT can also be applied for the treatment of mental health disorders affecting eating behaviours, such as anorexia, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorders. In these cases, medical nutrition therapy focuses on restoring healthy eating habits and patterns, addressing nutritional deficiencies, and giving the psychological comfort and emotional support vital for the comprehensive treatment of these health conditions.

The healthcare provider can determine whether medical nutrition therapy is suitable for treating the health condition of an individual, considering factors important for the specific case. Therefore, to receive reliable information regarding this matter, the patient should contact their healthcare provider, which is the first step in understanding how MNT can potentially benefit their health condition.^2,3

How to start, and how to follow?

After a consultation with a healthcare provider and a confirmed possibility of applying medical nutrition therapy to treat an individual's specific health disorder, a registered dietician nutritionist provides the patient with credible, reliable, and safe MNT guidance.

Step 1. Nutrition assessment. The nutritionist first performs a nutrition assessment to collect information about the treated patient. This stage of the process usually includes body measurements (such as body mass, height, and others), which are later used for the calculation of other parameters such as body composition or the body mass index (BMI). In some cases, a blood test might be conducted to determine the patient’s nutritional status. The purpose of the nutrition assessment is mainly collecting information about the patient and their health condition, and nutritional status, but also eating habits and taste preferences.

Step 2. Nutrition diagnosis. After the nutritionist analyses all the information collected from the patient, a nutrition diagnosis is made. It identifies the nutrition-related issue and determines how to tackle the problem. Based on the diagnosis, a tailored treatment plan is developed, which includes specific dietary recommendations to improve the patient’s nutritional status and overall health condition. The plan is designed to be effective in addressing the medical needs of the patient but also safe and sustainable in a long-term health management process.

Step 3. Nutrition intervention. Nutrition intervention is a stage when the patient works with the developed plan and tries to implement the recommended changes in their life. Depending on the treated condition, the adjustments might involve avoiding or limiting consumption of certain types of foods, providing sufficient amounts of certain types of foods or nutrients, or taking nutritional supplements. Other types of interventions can also be implemented, such as counselling on portion control, meal timing, and behavioural changes related to eating habits. All these measures aim at improvement of the patient’s health condition.

Step 4. Nutrition monitoring and evaluation. Nutrition monitoring and the periodical evaluation of the patient’s health condition are part of a comprehensive MNT process. This assessment helps track progress and adjust the dietary plan if needed to ensure that the patient’s nutritional goals are being met. The body measurements and tests performed for the first time during the nutrition assessment will be repeated, and the results will be analysed to determine the progress and effectiveness of the dietary plan and consider any necessary adjustments moving forward.

If there is any information that should be shared with the nutritionist, it can be done during the periodical check-ups. Any concerns and worries the patient might have can be discussed during these meetings. The nutritionist will answer the questions, clarify the information, and make adjustments to the dietary plan if necessary.²

For how long does medical treatment therapy have to be applied?

The duration of the treatment depends on the individual goals of the patient and the health condition being treated. It may vary from several months to years, but in some cases, the recommended adjustments might be necessary to implement and follow for life. The healthcare provider and nutritionist will provide the patient with the information regarding the duration of the treatment for the individual case.²

Summary

Medical nutrition therapy is a new medical approach applied to treating various health disorders and diseases. MNT is based on the fundamental importance of a balanced and nutritious diet for the health condition and well-being of a human. Medical nutrition therapy is a method applied for the treatment of numerous health conditions that relies on an individualised dietary plan developed by a registered dietician nutritionist with regard to the patient’s individual health condition and needs, ensuring its effectiveness in addressing the medical needs of the patient but also the sustainability for the long term health management. Medical nutrition therapy can be used as a complementary treatment method alongside pharmaceuticals or substitute the pharmacotherapy. MNT is being successfully applied for the treatment of many health conditions, including diabetes, obesity, gastrointestinal disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. It can also help with the management of metabolic disorders and food intolerances, but also mental health disorders affecting eating behaviours.