Mechanisms, prevention, and management of diarrhea in enteral nutrition

Diarrhea is a common and problematic complication of enteral nutrition, about which there has been considerable recent research. This article briefly reviews the mechanisms of diarrhea during enteral nutrition and then critically appraises the recent and emerging evidence for the prevention and management of this distressing complication.

For many years, fiber was extensively investigated for its role in preventing diarrhea; however, a more recent focus has been the investigation of specific fiber blends, including soluble fibers and prebiotics, for which there is now considerable quality evidence. Enteral nutrition may result in deleterious effects on the gastrointestinal microbiota, including reductions in bifidobacteria and key butyrate producers. Their modulation by prebiotics has been confirmed in studies on healthy individuals, but convincing evidence in acutely ill patients is required. Probiotics have undergone extensive recent research and their effect on preventing diarrhea in enteral nutrition would seemingly be strain dependent. Further research is required on systematic approaches to treating diarrhea during enteral nutrition.

A number of factors contribute to the pathogenesis of diarrhea in enteral nutrition, meaning that approaches to its prevention and management are necessarily multifaceted. Approaches to prevent diarrhea during enteral nutrition, and a clinical algorithm to manage it, are now presented.