Enteral Diet for Patients With Pulmonary Disease

1. Field of the Invention

The claimed subject matter pertains to an enteral diet, i.e. oral or tube feed for patients with pulmonary disease.

2. Description of the Related Art

Two products are currently available for nutritional therapy for pulmonary disease patients. Pulmocare.TM. (Ross Laboratories), a high fat product, contains 16.7% (62.6 g/l) protein, 55.2% (92.1 g/l) fat, and 28.1% (105.7 g/l) carbohydrates. The sources of these macronutrients are casein, corn oil, and sucrose and hydrolyzed cornstarch, respectively. Ensure HN.TM. (Ross Laboratories) contains 16.7% (44.4 g/l) protein, 30.1% (35.5 g/l) fat, and 53.2% (141.2 g/l) carbohydrate. The sources of these macronutrients are casein and soy isolate, corn syrup and sucrose, and corn oil.

Researchers have studied the effects of short term enteral feeding on pulmonary patients. In particular, it has been found that nitrogen balance and muscle strength are improved in patients receiving either of two--Pulmocare.TM. (high fat) or Ensure HN.TM. (high carbohydrate). Dr. Goldstein, "The Metabolic Ventilatory and Functional Effects of Refeeding Malnourished Patients with Emphysema", dissertation, Columbia University.

Dr. Goldstein's work suggests that feeding with the high fat product, Pulmocare.TM., is preferable if one wishes to reduce ventilatory response. This study suggests that respiratory patients (primarily emphysema and COPD patients) are hypermetabolic with the unique characteristic of being unable to tolerate the large carbon dioxide loads associated with metabolism of carbohydrates. Thus, the increases caloric requirements of these patients must be fulfilled with lipid rather than carbohydrate. This aspect of these patients' metabolic requirements has been addressed in the formulation of Pulmocare.TM..

There are specific metabolic requirements, however, that are not met by Pulmocare.TM.. A large part of the increased caloric requirement is associated with supporting the respiratory musculature and the work requirement to maintain the blood gases within normal physiologic limits. This is especially true with even the minor increase in exercise associated with normal daily activities. There is a specific need for a calorie source that is readily available to the respiratory muscle and a source of high quality protein to support and maintain muscle structure and function. There may also be specific micronutrient requirements.

This invention relates to an enteral diet for patients with pulmonary disease. During mild exercise, ventilatory response as described by carbon dioxide production (VCO.sub.2), minute ventilation (Ve), and arterial carbon dioxide oxygen tension (PaCO.sub.2) is elevated in patients consuming the high carbohydrate formula compared with patients consuming a high fat formula. Increased ventilatory response is considered clinically detrimental in most patients with chronic lung disease. More CO.sub.2 is generated per kilocalorie by the metabolism of carbohydrate compared to fat. Increased CO.sub.2 production in turn increases ventilatory response. To meet the needs of patients with pulmonary disease a micronutrient composition of protein, carbohydrate, and lipid has been devised. Similarly, the composition of the enteral diet is adjusted so that essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and trace elements is designed to meet specific nutritional needs. In particular, the diet contains no less than about 18% protein derived from a high quality protein source, from about 20-50% carbohydrate derived from maltodextrin or other partially hydrolyzed polysaccharides, and from about 40-55% fat derived from soy, canola, olive oil, plus medium-chain triglycerides.

Because pulmonary patients have compromised lung function, elimination of carbon dioxide may be problematic. An ideal dietary formulation for pulmonary patients attempts to reduce carbon dioxide generation from dietary sources, hence minimizing the pulmonary burden. The proposed formula will contain primarily maltodextrins or other polysaccharides and will comprise 20 to 50% of total calories. The only commercially available pulmonary formula on the market contains a large amount of sucrose (54% of total carbohydrates from sucrose). In the present application, not more than one-third of the carbohydrate content will be from sucrose or other rapidly metabolizable sugar.

In chronic lung disease, lipid serves as preferred fuel. Medium chain triglycerides (MCT) are an ideal dietary lipid source because they are more readily absorbed, a useful feature in view of coexisting malaborptive disorders that have been reported in pulmonary patients. Ketones produced during the metabolism of MCT may be utilized by muscle tissue as an energy source. In the present formulation long-chain triglycerides (LCT) are provided as soy oil, canola or olive oil. These oils not only provide linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid, but also provide n-3 fatty acids. Linolic acid, the predominant n-3 fatty acid supplied by these oils, may serve as a precursor to other n-3 fatty acids which have anti-inflammatory activity. In the proposed formulation, lipid will comprise 40 to 50% of the total calories. MCT will comprise 25 to 70% of the total triglycerides in this formulation.

The formulation of this invention contains whey protein as the major protein source. Whey protein is a high quality protein containing 18% more essential amino acids and more branched chain amino acids than casein, the protein source in the existing pulmonary formula. Branched chain amino acids are preferentially oxidized by the diaphragm and may improve nitrogen retention in respiratory muscles. The formulation will contain no less than 18% of the calories as protein.

The formulation described here will also contain 100% of the USRDA in 1500 kilocalories of all vitamins and minerals with the exception of phosphorus. Phosphorus levels will exceed the recommendations to correct the hypophosphatemia reported in patients with lung disease.

A biologically compatible, nutritious surfactant, such as egg yolk phospholipids, soy phospholipids, or milk phospholipids is preferred over such surfactants as carrageenan. Christie et al, Phospholipids in milk and diary products, 40 J. Soc Dairy Tech. 10-12 (1987).

Other sources of triglycerides and fatty acids may be employed singly or in mixtures.

The components listed on the Table A page are to be combined using the appropriate mixing technology in the amounts described to produce a 1-liter unit having an energy content of 1.2 kcal/ml. Water may be added as needed to give the final volume. The example shall not limit the invention to the formulation listed as modifications in keeping with the invention may be necessary for commercialization.

The formulation described in Example I is intended for patients with compromised lung function. The formulation may be fed by mouth or tube and may be used as a supplement or as a complete diet.

In this example the carbohydrate content is 35.7%, protein 18.3%, and fat 45.8%.

The components listed in Table B are combined using the procedure described in Example I.