Adults with impaired gastrointestinal function show improvements in gastrointestinal symptoms and protein intake with a high-protein, peptide-based oral nutritional supplement

Summary: Background: Provision of feeds containing hydrolysed, peptide-based proteins and medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), can help mitigate gastrointestinal (GI) intolerance in adults with impaired GI function, maldigestion and/or malabsorption. Aim: This study evaluated a high-protein, peptide-based, MCT-containing oral nutritional supplement (PEHP; 1.5 kcal/mL and 7.5 g protein/100 mL). Methods: Adults with impaired GI function were recruited by their managing dietitian and took PEHP orally for 28-days, with GI tolerance, compliance, weight, energy and protein intake assessed via non-validated questionnaires and a 24-hour dietary recall at baseline and at intervention end. Results: Fifteen, adults (56 years (16), 67 kg (26.0), 24 kg/m2 (7.6)) took part in this study. Intensity of nausea (Z= -2.070, p=0.038, n=15) and abdominal pain (Z= -2.236, p=0.025, n=15) improved significantly compared to baseline. Reductions in the intensity of diarrhoea, constipation, vomiting, flatulence, and burping were observed but were not statistically significant (p>0.05 for all). Compliance was higher with PEHP (81% (24)) than baseline feeds (63% (42)) but not significantly. Weight remained stable between baseline (67 kg (26)) and at intervention end (67 kg (27), p=0.414, n=15). Compared to baseline, total energy intake increased with PEHP albeit not significantly (1661 kcal/day (572) vs 1981 kcal/day (592), p=0.137, n=15). Increases in total protein intake were also observed, this time significantly (61 g/day (23) vs 78 g/day (29), p=0.042, n=15). Conclusions: This study in adults with impaired GI function found that PEHP improved GI tolerance and protein intake compared to feeds taken at baseline (including both polymeric and peptide-based feeds).