Recently, very-early-onset inflammatory bowel disease (VEO-IBD) was identified as IBD occurring in children younger than 6 years. A subset of these patients has infantile IBD, defined as IBD developing in children younger than 2 years [1], [2]. The Paris pediatric modification of the Montreal classification defines VEO-IBD as a subtype of IBD different from that of older children, accounting for 4%–10% of pediatric IBD [3]. According to the revised Porto criteria, VEO-IBD includes the following subtypes: ulcerative colitis (UC), atypical UC, IBD unclassified (IBD-U), and Crohn’s disease (CD) [4], [5], [6].

Nutritional impairment is an important disease feature of IBD. According to the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (ESPGHAN), nutritional status assessment, including dietary intake and anthropometric measurements, is essential for treating and monitoring these children [7], [8], [9].

Micronutrient deficiency can occur even with mild disease or during remission. The risk of nutritional deficiency is more prevalent in individuals with CD than in those with UC and IBD-U. Even with sufficient caloric intake, malabsorption can cause deficiencies in micronutrients, such as iron, zinc, and vitamin D, depending on the location and severity of illness [10]. Nutritional therapy helps replace nutrient loss, correct specific nutrient deficiencies, and promote energy and nitrogen balance for normal growth and maturation recovery [11].

Therefore, we assessed the nutritional status of patients with VEO-IBD at the time of diagnosis and the impact of nutritional support on their growth after 6 and 24 months of intervention by evaluating anthropometric and biochemical parameters.