[Correction of severe malnutrition by cyclic enteral feeding]

This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of cyclic (nocturnal) enteral nutrition in ambulatory malnourished patients. A ternary polymeric diet was administered to a total of 28 women and 23 men (mean age: 58 years) for a nocturnal period of 12-14 hours during 24.5 +/- 1.1 days. This diet provided an average of 28.3 +/- 0.6 kcal/kg ideal body weight/day. The nutritional program was administered as planned and well tolerated in 50 of the 51 patients. Voluntary oral caloric intake improved significantly during the treatment period (18.2 +/- 1.4 kcal/kg ideal body weight/day during the first week of enteral nutrition and 22.7 +/- 1.6 kcal/kg ideal body weight/day during the last week). The global nutritional deficit based on 10 anthropometric and biological parameters improved by an average of 36.8 +/- 2.2 percent. Overall, 71 percent of the patients exhibited a favorable nutritional course. Results were identical regardless of the pathology responsible for malnutrition. The main advantages of cyclic enteral nutrition include the possibility for patients to engage in physical activities and to eat normally during the day.