2020 Volume 2 Issue 2 Pages 103-111
Aim: To investigate the optimal acute-phase nutrition protocol by using different enteral formulas in patients with stroke.
Subjects and methods: This single-center retrospective analysis included 51 acute stroke patients who received enteral nutrition according to an early enteral feeding protocol from August 2015 to April 2017. The patients were classified into two groups: the 1.0 kcal group who received a standard 1.0 kcal/mL formula (n = 28 patients) and the 1.5 kcal group who received a 1.5 kcal/mL formula (a high protein peptide-based formula followed by a liquid diet [1.5 kcal/mL] and later switched to partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG]-containing liquid diet; n = 23). Clinical progress and outcomes were retrospectively compared between the groups.
Results: Baseline characteristics were similar between both groups. Compared with the 1.0 kcal group, the 1.5 kcal group had a lower protocol incompletion rate owing to gastrointestinal symptoms and fewer number of days needed to complete the protocol. The 1.5 kcal group also had a lower rate of weight loss. Blood biochemistry results showed improvement in nutritional status and inflammatory status.
Conclusion: The nutritional protocol using a 1.5 kcal/mL high protein peptide-based formula and a 1.5 kcal/mL PHGG-containing liquid diet was more beneficial than that using a 1.0 kcal/mL standard formula in acute stroke patients.
