Gerard E. Mullin, MD, is an associate professor in the department of medicine as well as director of integrative gastroenterology nutrition services at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. He is an internist, gastroenterologist, and nutritionist and the only physician in the United States who is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine for Gastroenterology, National Board of Nutrition Support Certification, American College of Nutrition, and the American Board of Nutrition Physician Specialists. Laura E. Matarese, PhD, RD, LDN, FADA, CNSD, is an assistant professor of surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and director of nutrition for the Intestinal Rehabilitation and Transplantation Center at the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She is the author of over 150 books, chapters, manuscripts, abstracts, and videos and currently serves on the editorial boards of several journals. Melissa Palmer, MD, is medical director of hepatology at New York University Hepatology Associates Plainview and clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center. She graduated from Columbia University with a BA and was trained in hepatology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. She is the author of the best-selling book Dr. Melissa Palmer's Guide to Hepatitis and Liver Disease and runs the popular liver website www.liverdisease.com.

Although "Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease Nutrition Desk Reference" is geared toward the health care provider, I believe the data presented is simple enough for a lay person experiencing any of the gastrointestinal or liver issues to find solace in the information presented. As well, the knowledge would assist the patient to make an informed decision on alternatives provided by the practitioner. I believe this reference is concise, thorough, and gives the reader an inclusive indication of issues at hand as well as understanding of possibilities and healing methods. -Reader Views, March 2012

• Major Components of the Gastrointestinal System and Their Role in Digestion. Malabsorption. The Role of the Gut Microbiota and Probiotics in Gastrointestinal Disease Prevention and Management. Short Bowel Syndrome. Celiac Disease. Food Allergy and Food Intolerance. Anatomy and Physiology of the Liver. Nutrition and Alcoholic Liver Disease. Nutrition and Nonalcoholic and Viral Liver Diseases. General Nutritional Guidelines for Liver Disease, Cirrhosis, and Its Complications. Nutrition and Liver Transplantation. Nutritional Considerations in Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis. Nutrition in Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Nutrition and Colorectal Disease. Nutrition and Colorectal Cancer. The Influence of Bitter, Aromatic, and Pungent Medicinal Plants on Gut Function. Obesity and Nutrition. Micronutrients. The Role of Fiber, Prebiotics, and Probiotics in Gastrointestinal Health and Disease. An Overview of Genomics and Gastrointestinal Health and Disease. Enteral Access and Enteral Nutrition. Parenteral Nutrition. Pediatric Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition. Drug-Drug and Drug-Nutrient Interactions in Gastrointestinal Disease. Nutrition Assessment. Critical Care Nutrition. Perioperative Nutrition Support. Bariatric Surgery. Home Parenteral Nutrition (HPN). An Integrative Nutrition Approach to Eating Disorders. Ethical and Medical-Legal Considerations.