Study title
Non-coagulating enteral formula can empty faster from the stomach: a double-blind, randomized crossover trial using magnetic resonance imaging. JPEN, 2015 Jul;39(5):544-51.
Official registration: http://www.trialregister.nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp?TC=2979
Study objective
To assess the gastric emptying of three enteral nutrition formulas containing different protein sources.
Background
The gastric accumulation of enteral formulas in tube-fed patients leads to an increased risk of vomiting and regurgitation. Gastric secretion-induced coagulation of proteins in enteral formulas might lead to gastric accumulation of solid protein particles that further increase the risk of upper digestive intolerance. This study used magnetic resonance imaging to noninvasively assess the half-emptying time (t50) of enteral formulas differing in protein composition.
Methodology
The FLOW study was a double-blind, randomised, three-way crossover trial involving 21 healthy subjects (male/female) aged between 18 and 50 year old with a BMI between 18 and 25 kg/m2.
Participants received a single bolus of 300ml tube feed product, administered to the stomach with a nasogastric tube. Each subject received three isocaloric (450 kcal) tube feeds with different protein sources in randomised order at three separate visits.
One formula was a non-coagulating whey dominant intact protein blend containing a mixture of dairy and vegetable proteins (P4 protein blend) and two were coagulating casein-dominant protein blends.
Countries
Switzerland.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the findings of this study demonstrate that a noncoagulating enteral formula can empty faster from the stomach than casein-dominant coagulating enteral formulas in a large cohort of healthy volunteers.
Please read the full publication here.