Home enteral nutrition does not decrease oral feeding in children during the first year of nutritional support.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Clinical Nutrition
• Child Health

Background:

• Enteral nutrition is crucial for children with poor nutritional status and inadequate oral intake.
• The impact of enteral nutrition on spontaneous oral feeding in pediatric populations remains under-researched.
• This study addresses the gap in understanding how enteral nutrition affects oral intake in children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate changes in oral feeding intake in pediatric patients after initiating enteral nutrition.
• To identify specific factors that influence the variation in oral feeding.
• To assess the long-term effects of enteral nutrition on oral intake in children.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cohort study of 149 pediatric patients receiving home enteral nutrition from 2009-2022.
• Oral and enteral intake were assessed at baseline (M0) and at 3, 6, and 12 months (M3, M6, M12) follow-ups.
• Linear mixed regression models were used to analyze variations in oral feeding and BMI z-scores over time.

Main Results:

• Oral intake remained stable over the first year, averaging approximately 47% of the recommended daily allowance.
• Factors like delivery method (nasogastric vs. gastrostomy), prematurity, underlying conditions, intrauterine growth retardation, and speech therapy did not significantly impact oral intake.
• The mode of administration (continuous nocturnal vs. daytime bolus) showed a potential influence on oral intake development.

Conclusions:

• Enteral nutrition supports total energy intake without negatively altering oral feeding in the first year of use.
• The administration method of enteral nutrition is a key factor that may influence oral intake patterns.
• Findings suggest that while enteral support is vital, careful consideration of administration techniques is important for optimizing oral feeding in children.