Efficacy and safety of an amino-acid-based formula during the period of weaning children with intestinal failure and parenteral nutrition

Introduction: Intestinal failure is the loss of intestinal function due to intestinal diseases, like short bowel syndrome and/or other primary intestinal defects, or to systemic conditions involving the bowel secondarily. Intestinal failure can be reversible or permanent. Patients with intestinal failure require parenteral nutrition for a variable period to survive. It is not well established which formula should be used for weaning from parenteral nutrition. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a new amino-acid-based formula (Humana SINEALL) on nutritional status and its safety in children with in-testinal failure during 4 weeks of observation. Patients and Methods: We conducted a prospective study in a group of patients aged 2 months to 17 years, followed in our pediatrics department for intestinal failure with different etiologies from October 2007 to February 2008. Nutritional status and feeding tolerance were assessed during 4 weeks of nutritional rehabilitation from parenteral nutrition using the new amino-acid-based formula. For each child we recorded gender, age, body weight, height, body mass index, and serum levels of nutritional biochemical parameters including albumin, prealbumin, iron, ferritin, calcium, and insulin-like growth factor-1. We also tested blood xylose and urinary iodine. All parameters were recorded at the time of enrolment (TO) and after 4 weeks of dietary management (T1). Results: Twenty-two patients (11 males) with a mean age of 4.38 ± 4.63 years were enrolled. Mean z-scored body weight increased from -2.01 ± 0.31 to 0.5 ± 0.98 (p