Nutrition in Clinical Medicine: How to Use This Site

We suggest that readers consult the introductory chapters devoted to basic nutrition topics and then look at chapters relevant to the conditions they see in practice. We also encourage a look at the supporting references.

Clinicians should not feel that they must be nutrition experts able to provide detailed diet counseling. But just as clinicians need to know when to order an X–ray whether or not they know how the radiographic equipment works, they also need to know when a nutritional intervention is needed and how to refer patients as appropriate.

This guide will be updated regularly. It therefore goes without saying that no edition of the guide can be held to be the definitive work on nutrition. Science moves on, and we look forward to the day when the information in this book, which may seem remarkable to many readers today, is eclipsed by new findings and new nutritional tools.

This is the first edition of a new work. Each chapter was written by one or more physicians and a nutrition expert, and was reviewed by appropriate medical specialists. While the authors are pleased to present a new clinical tool, we appreciate readers’ pointing out typographical errors and opportunities for improving future editions. Nutrition is as controversial as any other science–perhaps more so–and we welcome readers’ suggestions and criticisms. We also look forward to hearing from readers who would like to serve as reviewers for subsequent editions.

Finally, we should note that this work was originally intended to remedy the absence of clinically oriented nutrition information in the curricula of many medical schools. We hope readers will find ways to tackle the same problem. A new emphasis on prevention and nutrition in medical practice will be empowering for clinicians and potentially lifesaving for patients.