The Adequacy of an Enteral Formula Feeding to Maintain Nutritional Status

Yoo, Kyoung Hwa; Oh, In Myung; Park, Ji Eun; Park, Ju Sang; Jang, Eun Jeong; Park, Sang Jong; Kim, Sang Jung; Park, Sang Woon; Baik, Hyun Wook

Abstract

PURPOSE
It is a well-established fact that enteral nutrition is the preferred mode when compared with parenteral nutrition for the purpose of recovery and maintaining nutritional status not only in surgical but also in chronic debilitating patients. Further, this mode of nutrition is essential as it enhances preservation of gut mucosal integrity as well as immunity particularly in such patients. In a prospective multicenter clinical trial, we studied the effectiveness and safety of one specific enteral formula 'M'.
METHODS
We recruited 30 patients who were admitted to three hospitals (two university hospitals and one general hospital) in a metropolitan area for either surgery or treatment. The patients were given the enteral formula M at the dose of 25 kcal/kg/day for 7+/-2 days. Thereafter, we evaluated the performance and nutritional status of each patient by applying subjective global assessment (SGA) scale, Karnofsky performance status scale, and stroke specific quality of life (SS-QOL) scale. We also measured the plasma markers specific to nutritional status of such patients. In addition, we also recorded the consequent dose-response clinical symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, abdominal discomfort, bloating, nausea, and vomiting.
RESULTS
We found that the SGA scale score did not show significant change compared to the baseline score. However, both the Karnofsky performance status score and the SS-QOL score showed the tendency of improvement compared to the baseline score. We also found that there was a decrease in the serum markers used to signify the nutritional status of the patients, but this decrease was statistically not significant when compared to the baseline score. Of the 30 patients enrolled for this study, 12 patients showed distinct clinical adverse symptoms. The most commonly observed adverse response was abdominal pain, although all other symptoms subsided spontaneously.
CONCLUSION
We conclude that the administration of enteral formula 'M' to both perioperative and chronic debilitating patients hardly elicited serious adverse response. In fact, the formula was significant in preserving the performance status and quality of life of both perioperative and chronic debilitating patients.