Ľubomír Skladaný
Malnutrition is a diagnosis with complex etiopathogenesis, relatively speciffic findings on physical, laboratory and other complementary examinations, and with health consequences including death. It is perhaps due to the old good friend pneumonia which is usually contracted at the end of life of the starving patient, that malnutrition is not being recognised often enough as a deadly disease; morover, there is notorious discrepancy between ubiquity of malnutrition and degree of dedication to the science of clinical nutrition in different specialities. Due to the very nature of the subject of gastroenterolgy and its consequent core skills, gastroenterologist is predestined (and, to certain extent, obliged) to fill the abovementioned gaps. Gastroenterologist could be the advisor in clinical nutrition because the GI curriculum covers the field; apart from this he or she should be certified in all the necessary skills concerning access to enteral nutrition. The overlap between knowledge of practicing gastroenterologist and nutritionist is of such a character and magnitude that for gastroenterologist not to become a nutritionist is of considerable detriment. The aim of this text is to delineate the way from gastroenterology to nutrition.