The light normal diet: A survey on the tolerance of selected foods in patients in Austrian hospitals

The light normal diet is used as a gastroenterological basic diet in Austrian hospitals. The recommendations in the context of this nutrition represent an important basis for nutritional therapy in specific and unspecific gastroenterological illnesses. This choice of nutrition originated from a survey, which was carried out in German clinics in 1978. As the selection of food as well as eating habits have changed in the last 35 years, the survey carried out as part of this study should show the current tolerances in the context of the test foods and therefore present the basis for a possible update of the light normal diet.

In a co-operational project of the University of Applied Sciences i.e. the Bachelor Programmes Dietology (University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten, University of Applied Sciences Joanneum/Bad Gleichenberg and University of Applied Sciences for Health Professions Upper Austria) scientific recommendations for the treatment of unspecific gastrointestinal complaints in an international context were systematically researched. This formed the basis for a structured self-completed questionnaire. In April 2013 patients at five Austrian clinics were interviewed in the context of a multi-centric cross-sectional study and on the reporting date over 3,000 questionnaires were distributed. A total 563 people were interviewed. In Upper Austria the interviews were carried out in the Krankenhaus (Hospital) der Elisabethinen. The results provide insight into the current food tolerances of patients in Austrian hospitals.

• Project team: Klaus Nigl, M.A.; Marianne Tammegger, MBA
• Partners: University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten, University of Applied Sciences Joanneum/Bad Gleichenberg, Hospital of the Elisabethinen, Linz

Publications/Lecturing activities:

• Wewerka-Kreimel, D., Höld E., Möseneder, J., Karner, G.(2014). Leichte Vollkost-Studie 2013: Erhebung der Verträglichkeit ausgewählter Lebensmittel bei unselektierten Krankenhauspatienten in Österreich. Journal für Ernährungsmedizin, 16(1), 14-18.
• Auer, A., Wewerka-Kreimel, D., Möseneder, J., Höld, E., Nigl, K., Aichmann, S., … & Undesch, L. Die Leichte Vollkost–noch „state of the art “? Erhebung der Verträglichkeit ausgewählter Lebensmittel bei PatientInnen in 5 österreichischen Krankenhäusern. Vortrag am 31. Ernährungskongress Gastro-Entero-Hepatologische Ernährungsturbulenzen – Diaetologie auf neuen Wegen. März 2014. Wien.