Abstract
Serum copper (Cu) levels have decreased by long-term administration of conventional Cu-poor enteral liquid foods in elderly inpatients. Therefore, enteral liquid foods with adequate Cu contents are desirable. In this study 9 inpatients (2 men, 7 women) with enteral liquid foods, aged 74±15 years (M±SD), were recruited, who suffered from cerebrovascular diseases and accepted either nasogastric tube in 6 cases or gastrostomy in 3 cases. Fasting blood sample was obtained early in the morning. Conventional Cu-poor liquid foods contained either 0.1 mg per 1,000 kcal in MA-8 or 0.12 mg in PN-Hi, while a novel L-8 (Asahi Kasei Pharma) did 0.8mg, similar to 0.7 - 0.8 mg of Cu over 70 years old in Dietary Reference Intakes for Japanese, 2005. During 24 months of L-8 administration, serum Cu and ceruloplasmin increased by ingested Cu of mean 0.80 mg, and serum selenium (Se) increased by ingested Se of mean 40μg, resulting in their normal levels from low levels. Serum molybdenum (Mo) and blood manganese (Mn) levels increased within normal ranges, while serum iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) levels did not change significantly, though their baselines were underlimit. These above findings indicated that L-8 contained adequate Cu, Se, Mo and Mn. Further study is necessary for improving serum Fe and Zn levels in inpatients with enteral liquid foods.
