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Enteral nutrition modifies gut-associated lymphoid tissue in rat regardless of the molecular form of nitrogen supply.

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that beneficial effect of elemental enteral diets in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases could be mediated by the suppression of protein dietary antigens. The objective of the present work was to study the effect of enteral diet on gut associated lymphoid tissue and on gastric Lactobacillus flora, in rat. METHODS: The effects of three molecular forms of nitrogen supply: amino acids, oligopeptides or whole casein, were compared in rats on continuous enteral diet. Frozen sections of small bowel were studied with monoclonal antibodies anti-CD5, -CD4, -CD8, -CD25, -macrophages, -MHC II. The Lactobacillus flora was also enumerated in the stomach, in order to assess the effect of ED on rat flora. RESULTS: Growth and mucosa morphology were identical in control and enteral groups. Rats on enteral diet showed, whatever was the molecular form of nitrogen supply, a decrease in CD5+, CD4+ and CD8+ intraepithelial cell numbers, but not in lamina propria cell number, and a decreased MHC II epithelial expression, when compared to control rats. The enterally fed rats also showed a decrease in Lactobacillus gastric contents. CONCLUSIONS: The current study demonstrates that continuous enteral nutrition modifies MHC II epithelial expression and gut associated lymphoid tissue cell number in rat, whatever is the molecular form of nitrogen supply. Intestinal flora could be responsible, at least for part, for these results.

Animals↗

Enteral nutrition delivery technique.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Ingestion and absorption of a nutritionally adequate diet is necessary to maintain normal body composition and organ function. Patients with all kinds of diseases are at increased risk of developing nutritional abnormalities from anorexia, dietary restriction, malabsorption, increased intestinal losses or altered nutrient requirements. Therefore, it is important for doctors to understand the general principles of clinical nutrition for optimal management of patients with various disorders. The purpose of this review is to highlight an important aspect of nutrition: methods for enteral nutrient delivery. Enteral feeding is the preferred method to provide nutritional support in patients who cannot or will not eat but who have a functional gastrointestinal tract. The placement of a small-diameter nasogastric or nasoduodenal tube is the simplest technique for feeding patients who are unlikely to require tube feeding for more than 6 weeks. Gastrostomy, gastrojejunostomy and jejunostomy tubes placed by using endoscopic, radiologic, or surgical techniques should be considered in patients who require long-term feeding. With newer endoscopic feeding techniques replacing more conventional surgical techniques, this review proposes to discuss the newer developments in techniques of enteral feeding. RECENT FINDINGS: This review will briefly discuss the principles governing nasoenteral feeding and will describe in detail the endoscopic assisted methods for placing enteral feeding tubes. These include percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, jejunal extension through a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy or direct endoscopic jejunostomy. It will also discuss the procedural complications and long term results of these methods of enteral feeding. Lastly the latest innovation in enteral feed - the one step button - is also discussed. SUMMARY: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy placement is an appropriate method for providing nutrition in ill patients if no contraindication to enteral feeding exists. In certain situations, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy placement may even be used to make the life of a terminally ill patient comfortable.

Enteral Nutrition↗

Enteral feeding in inflammatory bowel disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Treatment algorithms for inflammatory bowel disease are changing rapidly. Increased and earlier use of immunomodulatory drugs and availability of biologic agents have reduced dependence on corticosteroids and made mucosal healing a realistic goal. It is timely to debate the role of enteral nutrition in this evolving therapeutic armamentarium for Crohn's disease, and to examine the mechanisms of its anti-inflammatory effects in light of current understanding of disease pathogenesis. RECENT FINDINGS: Clinical studies have suggested that response to enteral nutrition is associated with decreased mucosal inflammation in Crohn's disease, that isolated Crohn's colitis is less responsive and that exclusive enteral nutrition is required. Basic research has demonstrated that lipids in the intestinal lumen can alter signalling of the mucosal immune system by intestinal epithelial cells. Exclusive enteral nutrition is associated with alteration of enteric microflora. SUMMARY: Enteral nutrition is an efficacious treatment of active inflammation involving the ileum; recent-onset disease may be particularly responsive. The significance of effects on enteric flora deserves further exploration in view of the importance of microbes to disease pathogenesis.

Crohn Disease↗

Enteral nutrition after bone marrow transplantation.

Nutritional insult after bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is complex and its nutritional management challenging. Enteral nutrition is cheaper and easier to provide than parenteral nutrition, but its tolerance and effectiveness in reversing nutritional depletion after BMT is poorly defined. Nutritional status, wellbeing, and nutritional biochemistry were prospectively assessed in 21 children (mean age 7.5 years; 14 boys) who received nasogastric feeding after BMT (mean duration 17 days) and in eight children (mean age 8 years, four boys) who refused enteral nutrition and who received dietetic advice only. Enteral nutrition was stopped prematurely in eight patients. Greater changes in weight and mid upper arm circumference were observed in the enteral nutrition group, while positive correlations were found between the duration of feeds and increase in weight and in mid upper arm circumference. Vomiting and diarrhoea had a similar incidence in the two groups, while fever and positive blood cultures occurred more frequently in the dietetic advice group. Diarrhoea occurring during enteral nutrition was not associated with fat malabsorption, while carbohydrate malabsorption was associated with rotavirus infection only. Enteral feeding did not, however, affect bone marrow recovery, hospital stay, general wellbeing, or serum albumin concentrations. Hypomagnesaemia, hypophosphataemia, zinc and selenium deficiency were common in both groups. In conclusion, enteral nutrition, when tolerated, is effective in limiting nutritional insult after BMT. With existing regimens nutritional biochemistry should be closely monitored in order to provide supplements when required.

Body Weight↗

Reducing bacterial contamination of enteral feeds.

OBJECTIVE: It has previously been shown that microbial contamination of enteral feeds given to children in hospital and at home is common. This study therefore examined the effects of improvements in the enteral feeding protocol, coupled with an intensive staff training programme, on bacterial contamination. METHODS: The enteral feeding protocol was modified by: priming the feeding set on an alcohol treated metal tray, spraying the bottle opener and top with 70% alcohol, wearing non-sterile disposable gloves, and filling the feeding reservoir with feed for up to 24 hours' use rather than only four hours. Daily feeds samples were collected from 16 inpatients and home patients on enteral nutrition at the start and end of feeding. Seventy seven samples were cultured. Results were compared with previously published control data. RESULTS: Enteral feed contamination rates were reduced significantly from 62% to 6% of feeds given at home (p < 0.001), and from 45% to 4% of feeds given in hospital (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the importance of using an appropriate enteral feeding protocol, and of regular staff training in reducing contamination rates of enteral feeds to an acceptable level.

Child, Preschool↗

Randomised trial of safety and efficacy of immediate postoperative enteral feeding in patients undergoing gastrointestinal resection.

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether immediate post-operative enteral feeding in patients who have undergone gastrointestinal resection is safe and effective. DESIGN: Randomised trial of immediate post-operative enteral feeding through a nasojejunal tube v conventional postoperative intravenous fluids until the reintroduction of normal diet. SETTING: Teaching hospitals in London. SUBJECTS: 30 patients under the care of the participating consultant surgeon who were undergoing elective laparotomies with a view to gastrointestinal resection for quiescent, chronic gastrointestinal disease. Two patients did not proceed to resection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Nutritional state, nutritional intake and nitrogen balance, gut mucosal permeability measured by lactulose-mannitol differential sugar absorption test, complications, and outcome. RESULTS: Successful immediate enteral feeding was established in all 14 patients with a mean (SD) daily intake of 6.78 (1.57)MJ (1622 (375) kcal before reintroduction of oral diet compared with 1.58 (0.14) MJ (377 (34) kcal) for those on intravenous fluids (P < 0.0001). Urinary nitrogen balance on the first postoperative day was negative in those on intravenous fluids but positive in all 14 enterally fed patients (mean (SD) - 13.2 (11.6) g v 5.3 (2.7) g; P < 0.005). There was no difference by day 5. There was no change in gut mucosal permeability in the enterally fed group but a significant increase from the test ratios seen before the operation in those on intravenous fluids (0.11(0.06) v 0.15 (0.12); P < 0.005). There were also fewer postoperative complications in the enterally fed group (P < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Immediate postoperative enteral feeding in patients undergoing intestinal resection seems to be safe, prevents an increase in gut mucosal permeability, and produces a positive nitrogen balance.

Enteral Nutrition↗

Prediction of early tolerance to enteral feeding in preterm infants by measurement of superior mesenteric artery blood flow velocity.

AIMS: To evaluate whether serial Doppler measurements of superior mesenteric artery (SMA) blood flow velocity after the first enteral feed could predict early tolerance to enteral feeding in preterm infants. METHODS: When clinicians decided to start enteral feeds, Doppler ultrasound blood flow velocity in the SMA was determined before and after a test feed of 0.5 ml milk. The number of days taken for infants to tolerate full enteral feeding (150 ml/kg/day) was recorded. RESULTS: Fourteen infants (group 1) achieved full enteral feeding within seven days. Thirty infants (group 2) took 8-30 days. There was no difference in the preprandial time averaged mean velocity (TAMV) between the groups at a median age of 3 (2-30) days. In group 1, there was a significant increase in TAMV (p<0.01) above the preprandial level at 45 and 60 minutes, but this did not occur in group 2. An increase in TAMV by more than 17% at 60 minutes has a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 70% for the prediction of early tolerance to enteral feeds. CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant correlation between an increase in mean SMA blood flow velocity and early tolerance of enteral feeding. Doppler measurements of SMA blood flow velocity may be useful for deciding when to feed high risk preterm infants.

Analysis of Variance↗

Enteral nutrition in inflammatory bowel disease.

To assess the effect of the addition of enteral tube feeding with polymeric diets to the standard treatment of acute attacks of inflammatory bowel disease a total of 43 patients admitted to hospital (23 with Crohn's disease and 20 with ulcerative colitis) were studied retrospectively. Total enteral nutrition was given to 26 as the sole nutritional supply and to 17 in conjunction with a normal ward diet, when appropriate, according to the severity of attack (control group). Nutritional state was assessed and classified in all patients at admission and at the end of the study, by measuring the triceps skinfold thickness, mid arm muscle circumference, and serum albumin concentration as representative of body fat, muscle protein, and visceral protein, respectively. At admission the three nutritional variables were not statistically different between the groups. There was a significantly positive effect on mid arm muscle circumference in patients on total enteral nutrition compared with the control group, but there was no effect on either triceps skinfold thickness or serum albumin concentration. The percentage of subjects requiring intravenous albumin infusion, however, was significantly less in the group fed enterally than in the control group. In addition, fewer patients in the group fed enterally required surgical treatment compared with the control group, despite the fact that one of the criteria for starting enteral nutritional support was the expectancy that surgery would be needed. Total enteral nutrition was well tolerated and no major side effects arose during its use in patients with acute exacerbations of inflammatory bowel disease.

Anthropometry↗

Influence of energy and nitrogen contents of enteral diets on nitrogen balance: a double blind prospective controlled clinical trial.

Results of recent controlled studies show that because of difficulties in administering adequate quantities of enteral diet, positive nitrogen balance is not consistently achieved during enteral feeding. In order to determine whether nitrogen balance can be improved in routine clinical practice by prescribing enteral diets containing higher concentrations of nutrients, 118 patients with normal gastrointestinal function needing enteral nutrition were randomised to receive daily 21 of one of three polymeric diets: Standard diet (1.0 kcal/ml; 6.3 gN/l), Energy Dense diet (1.5 kcal/ml; 7.8 gN/l), and Energy-Nitrogen Dense diet (1.5 kcal/ml; 9.4 gN/l. The three diets, administered by continuous nasogastric infusion, were equally well tolerated. Results were analysed only for patients fed five or more days and who received at least 60% of prescribed enteral diet (n = 42). Positive nitrogen balance was achieved only in the patients receiving the Energy-Nitrogen Dense diet (n = 16; + 1.6 (SE) 0.6 gN/d, compared with the Standard diet (n = 12; -3.8 (1.1) gN/d; p less than 0.001), and the Energy Dense diet (m = 14; -1.9 (0.8) gN/d; p less than 0.005). As the findings of this prospective controlled trial show that positive nitrogen balance was not consistently achieved by administering 21 enteral diet containing up to 15.6 gN, consideration could, therefore, be given to routinely using enteral diets containing up to 9.4 gN/l.

Adolescent↗

Route of administration (enteral or parenteral) affects the contribution of L-glutamine to de novo L-arginine synthesis in mice: a stable-isotope study.

A pathway from enteral L-glutamine as substrate for L-arginine synthesis is suggested by previous studies. L-Glutamine and L-glutamine dipeptides exhibit numerous beneficial effects in experimental and clinical studies. In trauma patients, enteral L-glutamine supply increased plasma L-arginine. The present study was designed to quantify the contribution of L-glutamine to the de novo L-citrulline and L-arginine synthesis in mice when L-glutamine is administered in a high dose of labeled L-glutamine or L-alanyl-L-glutamine by the enteral or parenteral route. For this purpose, male Swiss mice (n = 43) underwent a laparotomy, and catheters were inserted for sampling and infusion. A primed, constant, and continuous infusion of L-alanyl-L-[2-(15)N]glutamine (dipeptide groups) or L-[2-(15)N]glutamine (free L-glutamine groups), simultaneously with L-[ureido-(13)C,(2)H(2)]citrulline and L-[guanidino-(15)N(2),(2)H(2)]arginine, was given (steady-state model). Mice received the L-glutamine tracers intravenously (jugular vein) or enterally (duodenum). Enrichments of metabolites were measured by LC-MS. Arterial L-glutamine concentrations were the highest in the intravenous dipeptide group. L-Glutamine was converted to L-citrulline and L-arginine when L-[2-(15)N]glutamine and L-alanyl-L-[2-(15)N]glutamine were given by enteral or parenteral route. The contribution of L-glutamine to the de novo synthesis of L-citrulline and L-arginine was higher in the enteral groups when compared with the intravenous groups (P < 0.005). Therefore, the route of administration (enteral or parenteral) affects the contribution of L-glutamine, provided as free molecule or dipeptide, to the de novo synthesis of L-arginine in mice.

Animals↗

An enteral therapy containing medium-chain triglycerides and hydrolyzed peptides reduces postprandial pain associated with chronic pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Pain in patients with chronic pancreatitis is difficult to manage. We examined if an enteral formulation containing medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) and hydrolyzed peptides would (1) minimally stimulate the exocrine pancreas by blunting cholecystokinin release and (2) decrease pain in patients with chronic pancreatitis. METHODS: In the first part of the study, on separate days, 6 healthy controls consumed a standard enteral formulation, an enteral formulation containing MCT and hydrolyzed peptides, and a high-fat meal. Baseline and postprandial plasma cholecystokinin (CCK) concentrations were analyzed. Subsequently, 8 patients with chronic pancreatitis were enrolled and instructed to complete a visual analog pain assessment for a baseline period of 2 weeks followed by three cans per day of the enteral formulation containing MCT and hydrolyzed peptides for 10 weeks. RESULTS: Mean CCK levels for our control subjects were 0.46 +/- 0.29 pM at baseline, 10.75 +/- 0.45 pM in response to the high-fat meal, and 7.9 +/- 1.25 pM in response to the standard enteral formulation. Of note, CCK levels were 1.43 +/- 0.72 pM in response to the enteral supplement containing MCT and hydrolyzed peptides. In patients with chronic pancreatitis, the average improvement in pain scores from baseline to the conclusion of the study was 61.8% (p = 0.01). This corresponded to a clinical improvement in 6 of the 8 patients. CONCLUSIONS: A complete enteral supplement containing MCT and hydrolyzed peptides minimally increases plasma CCK levels. This therapy may be effective in reducing postprandial pain associated with chronic pancreatitis.

Adult↗

Selenium is depleted in Crohn's disease on enteral nutrition.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: [corrected] Selenium is an important trace element and its deficiency has been reported to be associated with cardiomyopathy or gastrointestinal cancer. The aim of this study is to clarify the selenium status in Crohn's disease (CD) on enteral nutrition. METHODS: We measured serum selenium concentrations in 53 patients with CD and compared them with those in 21 healthy controls. Twenty-nine patients were under the treatment by enteral nutrition (EN group), and the remaining 24 patients were free from formulated enteral nutrition (non-EN group). RESULTS: While the serum selenium concentration in the non-EN group was not decreased when compared to controls, the value in the EN group was significantly lower than those in the non-EN group and in controls. Clinical manifestations of selenium deficiency were found in a patient on exclusive enteral nutrition. In the EN group, the serum selenium concentration showed an inverse correlation with the duration and the daily dose of enteral nutrition. In the non-EN group, the serum selenium concentrations were inversely correlated with the Crohn's disease activity index. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that patients with CD on enteral nutrition are at risk for selenium deficiency and that even patients without enteral nutrition may develop selenium deficiency at the active phase of the disease.

Adolescent↗

Procalcitonin and enteral nutrition tolerance in critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND: Serum procalcitonin concentrations have been reported to be elevated in patients with bacterial infection. Early enteral nutrition (EN) has been shown to decrease infections in trauma patients. The purpose of this study was to characterize procalcitonin and other serum proteins during EN of trauma patients based on EN tolerance and presence of infection. METHODS: Twenty traumatized patients received a high-protein enteral formulation within 5 days of injury. Serum for procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, and prealbumin was analyzed on days 1 and 7 of EN. The procalcitonin/prealbumin and C-reactive protein/prealbumin ratios were calculated the same days. Patients who were infected during the study were compared with those not infected, and enteral-tolerant patients were compared with enteral-intolerant patients using these measurements. RESULTS: In the 20 trauma patients, procalcitonin (10.35 +/- 27.87 versus 1.03 +/- 1.24 ng/mL, p < .001) and procalcitonin/prealbumin ratio (1.70 +/- 4.20 versus 0.18 +/- 0.28, p < .01) decreased significantly over the 7-day period of EN. In the 12 patients who had infection, procalcitonin (16.33 +/- 35.31 versus 1.37 +/- 1.41 ng/mL, p < .004) and procal- citonin/prealbumin ratio (2.74 +/- 5.31 versus 0.26 +/- 0.33, p < .01) decreased significantly over the 7-day period of enteral nutrition. There were no significant changes in the measurements for 8 patients without infection. In the 15 patients who were enteral-tolerant, procalcitonin (12.56 +/- 32.84 versus 1.07 +/- 1.23 ng/mL, p < .004) and procalcitonin/prealbumin ratio (2.03 +/- 4.93 versus 0.20 +/- 0.29, p < .01) decreased significantly. CONCLUSION: Procalcitonin serum concentrations decrease significantly during EN in enteral-tolerant, critically ill patients with infection.

Adolescent↗

Early enteral feedings in adults receiving venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

INTRODUCTION: For over 20 years extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been an advanced treatment for adults, children and neonates with severe respiratory failure that has failed to respond or improve with conventional therapy. Withholding enteral feeding in patients on ECMO is common practice in many centers, based partly on the risk of splanchnic ischemia resulting in loss of intestinal integrity, predisposing to bacterial translocation and sepsis. We report one center's experience with early enteral nutrition in adult patients receiving venovenous (VV) ECMO for severe respiratory failure. METHODS: Adult patients that received VV ECMO at LSUHSC-Shreveport over the last 8 years were eligible for inclusion. RESULTS: A total of 27 patients met these criteria and their charts and nutrition therapy reviewed. Average duration of ECMO support was 8.7 +/- 3.6 days. Twenty-six of 27 (96%) received enteral nutrition via gastric tube alone or in combination with total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Eighteen patients received enteral nutrition as their only source of nutritional supplementation, with the remainder receiving partial nutrition support via the parenteral route. Seventy-five percent of the patients received prokinetic medication within the first 24 hours, with 95% receiving prokinetic therapy by 48 hours. No patients developed intestinal ischemia, gastrointestinal bleeding, or other complications related to early enteral feeding. CONCLUSION: Enteral nutrition started within the first 24 to 36 hours of initiating venovenous ECMO support is safe and well-tolerated in adults. No serious adverse events were attributable to enteral nutrition in these patients.

Adult↗

Enteral nutrition and cardiovascular medications in the pediatric intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: Enteral nutrition has multiple benefits for critically ill patients. However, the administration of enteral nutrition to patients requiring medications for cardiovascular support is controversial secondary to concerns of altered splanchnic perfusion. The objective of this study is to evaluate the tolerance of enteral nutrition in pediatric patients receiving cardiovascular medications. METHODS: This was a retrospective chart review of patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston in a 1-year period. Patients were eligible for the study if they received enteral nutrition during or within 24 hours of requiring continuous infusion of dopamine, dobutamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, or neosynephrine. RESULTS: Fifty-five admissions (52 patients) met study criteria. Patients ranged in age from 1 month to 20 years old. Although a large number (71%) of patients experienced at least 1 feeding interruption, the majority (70%) of reasons cited for stopping or slowing feedings were not related to gastrointestinal (GI) tolerance. Only 29% of patients had feedings held for perceived intolerance. Vomiting was the most often-cited reason for these interruptions. Constipation was reported in 36% of patients but cited only 4 times as a reason for feeding interruption. Four patients exhibited evidence of GI bleeding. This bleeding was considered clinically insignificant in 2 patients and appeared unrelated to enteral feedings in the others. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that many pediatric patients receiving cardiovascular medications tolerate enteral nutrition without adverse events. Further prospective studies are needed to determine whether enteral nutrition can consistently benefit these critically ill pediatric patients.

Adolescent↗

Latent copper deficiency in patients receiving low-copper enteral nutrition for a prolonged period.

BACKGROUND: Copper deficiency has been reported in patients supported with long-term enteral nutrition. Occasionally, this leads to anemia and leukopenia. There is no detailed report relating to the onset time of copper deficiency and how the symptoms develop. This report describes the relation between copper deficiency symptoms and duration of enteral nutrition. METHODS: The study included 55 patients, with 82 measurements, at the neurologic ward of Nagoya Daini Red Cross Hospital. The mean age was 71 +/- 11 years. The daily average dosage of energy was 938 kcal/d. A commercial nutrient for enteral administration that contains 0.13 mg/1000 mL copper was used. Baseline measures on individual patients were taken every month. Blood was collected at 8 am before and after the start of enteral nutrition. Levels of copper, zinc, ceruloplasmin, hemoglobin, and white blood cells were measured. RESULTS: The serum level of copper in the patients was 94.0-181.0 microg/dL before the start of enteral nutrition. The level of serum copper remained within the normal range for about 3 months. The level of serum copper in the patients decreased gradually and was less than the normal level after 3 months, with the exception of 1 patient. The serum level of copper in the patients was 3.0-123.0 microg/dL 3 months after the start of enteral nutrition. The levels of serum copper were below normal in 25 cases out of 82 measurements. However, the number of patients with symptoms of copper deficiency was only 2. Copper deficiency symptoms appeared at 41 and 77 months, the average being 59 months. CONCLUSIONS: Almost all patients showed a latent copper deficiency about 3 months after the start of enteral nutrition. However, only a few patients developed overt symptoms of copper deficiency.

Adult↗

Comparative evaluation of the quantitative utilization of parenterally and enterally administered leucine and L-[1-13C,15N]leucine within the whole body and the splanchnic region.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to quantify the kinetic aspects of leucine metabolism in the whole body and within the splanchnic region when an amino acid mixture is administered by the enteral route as compared with administration by the parenteral route. METHODS: Seven chronically catheterized dogs were studied during an intragastric infusion of L-[1-13C,15N]leucine with 0.24 g of complete amino acid mixture (kg-1.h-1) for 6 hours. The results are compared with those previously reported for nine dogs studied under essentially identical experimental conditions except that the tracer and amino acid mixtures were given by vein. RESULTS: At the whole body level, the various parameters of leucine metabolism (flux, oxidation, and disappearance into and release from proteins) were not significantly different among animals that were infused enterally and those that were infused parenterally. Leucine metabolism within the splanchnic region and gut was more extensive for enteral administration than for parenteral administration. For the splanchnic region, 31.4%, 27.9%, and 6.0% of enterally administered leucine was used for protein synthesis, deamination, and oxidization, respectively, compared with respective mean values of 19.5% (p < .001), 13.4% (p < .001), and 4.1% (p < .05) for parenterally administered leucine. For liver, 4.8% of enterally administered leucine was oxidized compared with 2.3% (p < .001) of parenterally administered leucine. These findings are qualitatively similar to those reported previously by us when comparing enteral and parenteral amino acid intakes but with an IV tracer infusion. CONCLUSION: Enteral administration seems to be more effective than an acute parenteral feeding regimen, at least in maintaining leucine (protein) balance in gut tissues.

Amino Acids↗

Compatibility of oral morphine sulfate solution with enteral feeding products.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with terminal cancer often receive continuous enteral nutrition and oral medications concomitantly through nasogastric or gastrostomy feeding tubes. This study evaluated in vitro the compatibility of morphine sulfate (MS) solution 2 mg/mL (Roxane Laboratories) with three enteral nutrition products (Jevity [J], Osmolite-HN [O], and Pulmocare [P]) at 22 and 37 degrees C for 48 hours and J alone at 50 degrees C for 48 hours. METHODS: Mixtures containing 1 mg/mL MS were prepared with each enteral product: J, O, and P (Ross Laboratories). Serial samples (1 mL) were collected from each mixture and analyzed for morphine by reverse-phase HPLC. An analog pH meter was used to measure the pH of each mixture at scheduled intervals. RESULTS: The addition of MS 2 mg/mL (MS2) to J caused an immediate decrease in pH from 6.24 +/- 0.01 to 4.96 +/- 0.05 and a noticeable precipitate/phase separation. No phase separation was observed with a 1 mg/mL mixture of MS and J, O, and P when they were prepared with a more concentrated MS solution (20 mg/mL, MS20) (Roxanol Intensol). The pH declined linearly for all three enteral feeding products as the MS20 concentration was increased from 0 to 1 mg/mL. The precipitate observed in the mixture of MS2 with J was probably caused by the decrease in pH, which was caused by the greater volume fraction of MS solution. The concentration of morphine in the supernatant of a MS2/J solution was 0.83 mg/mL, and the concentration of MS in a homogeneous MS20/J solution was 0.86 mg/mL. At 48 hours, there was negligible (< 2 percent) morphine decomposition in all MS admixtures at all temperatures. No microbial growth was observed in any admixture at 24 hours. Electrophoretic analysis demonstrated equal protein migration and molecular weight distribution for J and MS/J solutions. CONCLUSIONS: MS is stable in enteral feeding solutions at temperatures from 22 to 50 degrees C. MS2 is associated with a pH-dependent protein precipitation (but not destruction of the proteins), resulting in disproportionate concentrations of morphine in the supernatant and precipitate. This incompatibility may adversely affect enteral feeding analgesic delivery. We, therefore, recommend MS 20 mg/mL for this method of oral MS delivery, because of its superior compatibility and stability with enteral feeding products.

Carbohydrates↗