Final answer:
Enteral nutrition (EN) is essential for intestinal adaptation after significant bowel resection as it provides direct stimulation of the gut mucosa, unlike other nutritional support therapies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nutrition support therapy essential to intestinal adaptation following significant bowel resection is Enteral nutrition (EN). EN helps to stimulate the process of adaptation by providing nutrients directly to the remaining intestine, promoting absorptive capacity, and maintaining gut structure and function. This stands in contrast to parenteral nutrition, which although provides essential nutrients, does not offer the same stimulatory effects on the gastrointestinal tract.
While glutamine-enriched parenteral nutrition, IV lipid restriction, and glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) administration have roles in intestinal health and recovery, it is the direct stimulation of the gut mucosa by nutrients in EN that is considered most crucial for adaptation after a significant bowel resection. Therefore, healthcare professionals typically prioritize establishing enteral feeding as soon, and as safely, as possible post-surgery.