Project description:Children with intestinal failure (IF) suffer from insufficient intestinal length or function, making them dependent on parenteral nutrition (PN) for growth and survival. PN and its components are associated with many complications ranging from simple electrolyte abnormalities to life-threatening PN-associated liver disease, which is also called intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD). From a nutrition perspective, the ultimate goal is to provide adequate caloric requirements and make the transition from PN to full enteral nutrition (EN) successful. Upon review of the literature, we have summarized the most effective and innovative PN and EN therapies for this patient population. Antibiotic-coated catheters and antibiotic or ethanol locks can be implemented, as they appear effective in reducing catheter-related infection and thus further reduce the risk of IFALD. Lipid emulsions should be given judiciously. The use of an omega-3 fatty acid-based formulation should be considered in patients who develop IFALD. Trophic feeding is important for intestinal adaptation, and EN should be initiated early to help wean patients from PN. Long-term management of children with IF continues to be an emerging field. We have entered uncharted territory as more children survive complications of IF and IFALD. Careful monitoring and individualized management to ensure maintenance of growth while avoiding complications are the keys to successful patient outcomes.
Project description:Background and aimsExclusive enteral nutrition is recommended as a first-line treatment in active pediatric Crohn's Disease, but its mechanism of action is still not clear. We aimed to assess alterations in the metabolic profile of newly diagnosed pediatric Crohn's Disease patients before and during exclusive enteral nutrition therapy.MethodsPlasma samples from 14 pediatric Crohn's Disease patients before and after 3-4 weeks on exclusive enteral nutrition were analyzed using mass spectrometry. T-test, fold change and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis were used for mining significant features. Correlation analysis was performed between the annotated features and the weighted pediatric Crohn's disease activity index using Pearson r distance.ResultsAmong the 13 compounds which decreased during exclusive enteral nutrition, most are related to diet, while one is a bacterial metabolite, Bacteriohopane-32,33,34,35-tetrol. The phosphatidic acid metabolite PA(15:1/18:0) was significantly reduced and correlated with the weighted pediatric Crohn's disease activity index. Lipids increased during exclusive enteral nutrition therapy included phosphatidylethanolamines; PE(24:1/24:1), PE(17:2/20:2) and one lactosylceramide; LacCer(d18:1/14:0).ConclusionFood additives and other phytochemicals were the major metabolites, which decreased following the exclusion of a regular diet during exclusive enteral nutrition. An alteration in bacterial biomarkers may reflect changes in intestinal microbiota composition and metabolism. Thus, metabolomics provides an opportunity to characterize the molecular mechanisms of dietary factors triggering Crohn's Disease activity, and the mechanisms of action of exclusive enteral nutrition, thereby providing the basis for the development and evaluation of improved intervention strategies for prevention and treatment.
Project description:Background: The ultimate goal of intestinal failure (IF) management is to maintain optimal nutritional status, improve the quality of life (QoL), and promote intestinal adaptation. Enteral nutrition support is safe and effective in patients with IF and plays a central role in the management of patients with IF. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of home enteral nutrition on nutritional status, body composition (BC), QoL and other clinical outcomes in malnourished patients with intestinal failure. Methods: This prospective observational study included 166 malnourished patients with intestinal failure presented to Jinling Hospital from January 2016 to October 2018. All patients were supported with home enteral nutrition after discharge. We evaluated clinical outcomes, including nutritional status, BC, phase angle (PhA), QoL, mortality, gastrointestinal complications related to enteral feeding, and other clinical outcomes at 1, 3, and 6 months after discharge. Results: Body weight, BC, and other nutritional parameters were maintained or significantly increased during the period of home enteral nutrition after discharge (p < 0.01). Especially, the quality of skeletal muscle mass in body composition was significantly improved (p < 0.01). SF-36 quality of life scores was significantly improved (discharged at 6 months: reported health transition 40.7 ± 12.1 vs. 69.3 ± 16.3, p < 0.01). There were no differences between hospital and out of hospital with respect to tube-related or gastrointestinal complications. Advanced age, disease type, and poor nutritional status were risk factors for poor clinical outcomes. Conclusions: Home enteral nutrition support is effective for malnourished patients with intestinal failure. It improves nutritional status, BC, PhA, and QoL. Clinical Trial Registration: identifier: ChiCTR2000035145.
Project description:BackgroundBlenderized feeds consisting of whole food components are emerging as a preferred approach to enteral nutrition. However, there is limited evidence-based guidance for this strategy in short bowel syndrome (SBS). We aimed to explore the tolerance and clinical outcome of blenderized feeds in patients with SBS.MethodWe conducted a single-center, retrospective study of blenderized feeds in pediatric SBS. Of the 376 patients screened, 58 met inclusion criteria. Three patients were excluded because of a history of bowel transplant. Demographics, clinical history, and nutrition history were collected and analyzed.ResultPatients had improved diarrhea though worsening gas while receiving blenderized feeds. There was no significant difference in small bowel length in patients who discontinued blends compared with those who continued. However, patients with colonic resection were more likely to discontinue the blends. In a subgroup of patients who lost weight despite improved diarrhea (n = 19), most had a history of ileocecal valve (ICV) and colonic resection, but no difference in small bowel length compared with those who did not lose weight.ConclusionOur cohort of patients with SBS experienced improved gastrointestinal symptoms and stool quality on blenderized feeds. Patients without an ICV and with colonic resection were more prone to weight loss. Stepwise titration of blenderized formula with previous formula regimen may be needed in a subset of patients to optimize tolerance and weight gain. Further study is warranted to understand factors contributing to variable tolerance and weight gain on blenderized formulas to guide their use in patients with SBS.
Project description:Under conditions of starvation and disease, the gut barrier becomes impaired, and trophic feeding to prevent gut mucosal atrophy has become a standard treatment of critically ill patients. However, the mechanisms responsible for the beneficial effects of enteral nutrition have remained a mystery. Using in vitro and in vivo models, we demonstrate that the brush-border enzyme, intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP), has the ability to detoxify lipopolysaccharide and prevent bacterial invasion across the gut mucosal barrier. IAP expression and function are lost with starvation and maintained by enteral feeding. It is likely that the IAP silencing that occurs during starvation is a key component of the gut mucosal barrier dysfunction seen in critically ill patients.
Project description:BackgroundAlthough there are many hypotheses, the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD) is not completely clear so far. Exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) is a routine measure in the treatment of active CD. We aimed at investigating the impact of EEN on patients with active CD from microbial metabolomics.Methods16S-rDNA sequencing technology and gas chromatography-mass spectrometer analysis were employed to investigate the modification of the intestinal flora and fecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) during the EEN.ResultsSeven patients with CD, who conducted EEN, were followed up successfully in the present study. The 8-week EEN resulted in a remission of the condition of subjects with active CD, as revealed by a significant decrease in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (P = 0.018), C-reactive protein (CRP) (P = 0.028), and Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI) (P = 0.018). The nutrition of the subjects was improved after an 8-week treatment course with EEN, which was associated with an increase in body mess index (BMI) (P = 0.018) and serum albumin (ALB) (P = 0.018) levels. Furthermore, our investigations revealed a significantly increased abundance of Firmicutes paralleled by decreased levels of Proteobacteria. With respect to the genus, five species of bacteria including Ruminococcus (P = 0.01), Lachnospiraceae (P = 0.02), Anaerotruncus (P = 0.04), Flavonifractor (P = 0.04), and Novosphingobium (P = 0.05) showed significantly increased abundance. This was accompanied by relative changes in fecal short-chain fatty acids levels. Moreover, we successfully constructed a stable model by combining these five significantly different genera to predict the therapeutic effect of EEN on patients with CD (AUC = 0.9598).ConclusionsThe findings indicated that EEN can alleviate the condition and the nutrition of patients with active CD by regulating the intestinal flora and influencing the expression level of fecal short-chain fatty acids.
Project description:It is a strong and commonly held belief among nutrition clinicians that enteral nutrition is preferable to parenteral nutrition. We provide a narrative review of more recent studies and technical reviews comparing enteral nutrition with parenteral nutrition. Despite significant weaknesses in the existing data, current literature continues to support the use of enteral nutrition in patients requiring nutrition support, over parenteral nutrition.
Project description:Exclusive enteral nutrition modulates the faecal metagenome in paediatric Crohn’s disease not by enriching the abundance of presumably ‘beneficial’ commensals but by suppressing ‘dysbiotic’ bacteria
Project description:BackgroundMany studies have examined the effects of exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) in children with Crohn's disease (CD), but corticosteroids are considered a superior therapy and are frequently used in China. This meta-analysis aims to compare the efficacy of EEN with corticosteroids in treating pediatric CD.MethodsA comprehensive retrieval from medical databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Wanfang data, VIP and CNKI, was performed using the search terms "diet therapy", "exclusive enteral nutrition", "Crohn's disease", "inflammatory bowel diseases", "child" and "pediatrics" from January 1990 to April 2017.ResultsWe included 18 studies from 1329 identified sources in this meta-analysis. EEN was as effective as corticosteroids in inducing remission rate of children suffering from CD (OR = 1.35; 95% CI 0.90, 2.10; P = 0.14). Nevertheless, patients who received EEN were more likely to achieve both endoscopic mucosal healing (OR = 5.24; 95% CI 2.06, 13.37; P = 0.0005) and histological mucosal healing (OR = 4.78; 95% CI 1.89, 12.08; P = 0.0009) than those who received corticosteroids; the Pediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index was lower [mean difference (MD) = - 3.67; 95% CI - 4.91, - 2.43] and weight gain was higher (MD = 1.92; 95% CI 0.02, 3.83; P = 0.05) in those patients who received EEN than in those who received corticosteroids. No difference was found in relapse rate (OR = 0.57; 95% CI 0.25, 1.29; P = 0.18), height for age or body mass index between the patients treated with EEN and corticosteroids at the 1-year end point.ConclusionsThis meta-analysis reveals that there is no significant difference between EEN and corticosteroids in the efficacy of inducing remission rate of CD in a pediatric population, but EEN is superior to corticosteroids in improving short-term mucosal inflammation and reducing the PCDAI index.