[Diarrhea associated with enteral feeding: hyperglycemia and other factors]

To identify clinical and biochemical parameters related to diarrhea occurrence in adult inpatients submitted to tube feeding.

Weight, height, body mass index (= weight/height2) and triceps skinfold were registered, in addition to serum albumin, glucose and 24-hours urinary creatinine excretion measurements.

Patients with diarrhea (n = 17) did not statistically differ from those without diarrhea (n = 20), respectively concerning to age (58.1 +/- 13 vs 52.1 +/- 18.9 years), body mass index (18.5 +/- 6.9 vs 21.2 +/- 3.1 wt/ht2), acute phase response (94 vs 95%) and antibiotic therapy frequency (82.3 vs 95%), urinary creatinine excretion (754.7 +/- 561.2 vs 698.8 +/- 358.5 mg/day) and daily infused diet volume (969.3 +/- 379.8 vs 1037.7 +/- 380.4 ml). Patients with diarrhea showed lower levels of serum albumin (2.59 +/- 0.52 vs 2.92 +/- 0.46 g/dl), and higher blood glucose (157.5 +/- 82.3 vs 111.6 +/- 31.5 mg/dl) and triceps skinfold measurements (13.6 +/- 5.2 vs 10.1 +/- 4.4 mm).

Under similar clinical and nutritional conditions, adults with diarrhea have higher blood glucose and lower serum albumin levels than controls.