Characteristics of the enteral hyperalimentation literature

There is a bias in secondary literature sources, such as MEDLINE, that results in an information gap on enteral hyperalimentation. This gap accentuates the problem of locating papers on enteral hyperalimentation with medical foods, a problem shared by physicians, dietitians, pharmacists, and information scientists. A complete information package on enteral hyperalimentation with chemically defined elemental diets was identified and collected for use in determining the characteristics of that literature. Less than 20 journal titles contain over half of the published papers which are predominantly published in English from research done in the United States. As the medical community's interest in the enteral route for hyperalimentation escalates, so does its need for information in this vital patient support area. Any possible hindrance to obtaining access to published information should be recognized and challenged.