Experience of Using a Semielemental Formula for Home Enteral Nutrition in Children: A Multicenter Cross-sectional...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Clinical Nutrition
• Dietary Therapy

Background:

• Semielemental diets are used in pediatric enteral nutrition but patient characteristics are not well-documented.
• Understanding tolerance and efficacy is crucial for optimizing care in children with complex medical needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a cohort of children on home enteral nutrition using Peptamen Junior.
• To assess the tolerance and nutritional efficacy of this semielemental diet in a pediatric population.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective multicenter survey was conducted across 14 French pediatric centers from 2010 to 2015.
• Data collected included patient demographics, anthropometrics, disease indications, diet administration, tolerance, and adverse events.
• Follow-up occurred at baseline, 3, 6, 12 months, and annually thereafter.

Main Results:

• 136 pediatric patients (mean age 9.8 years) were included, with primary conditions including digestive, neurological, and hematological disorders.
• Indications for semielemental diet included polymeric diet failure (51.9%) and severe malnutrition (14.1%).
• Body mass index improved or remained normal in 88.3% of children, with side effects reported in 39.2% (8.2% requiring medical attention).

Conclusions:

• Semielemental diets, such as Peptamen Junior, appear well-tolerated and effective for home enteral nutrition in children.
• This approach is beneficial for pediatric patients with malabsorption or following polymeric diet failure.
• Further research can refine nutritional strategies for children with complex gastrointestinal and systemic diseases.