Title:  Calorically dense nutritional composition

United States Patent:  6,200,950

Assignee:  Nestec S.A. (Vevey, CH)

Filed:  February 18, 1998

The present invention provides an enteral composition and method for providing nutrition to metabolically stressed patients. Pursuant to the present invention, the enteral composition has an increased caloric density of approximately 1.4 to 1.8 kcal/mL. The enteral composition includes a peptide based protein source, a lipid source, and a carbohydrate source.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a nutritional composition designed for metabolically stressed patients. To this end, the present invention provides nutritional support with formulations containing increased caloric density without elevated protein levels or excess fluid.

Pursuant to the present invention, an enteral composition includes a protein source comprising approximately 15% to 20% of the caloric distribution of the composition; a carbohydrate source; and a lipid source including a mixture of medium and long chain triglycerides. Significantly however, the enteral composition, unlike prior compositions, has a caloric density of at least approximately 1.4 kcal/mL.

In an embodiment, the hydrolyzed protein source is essentially 100% hydrolyzed whey protein.

In another embodiment, the lipid source of the composition includes at least 70% medium chain triglycerides.

Still further, in another embodiment, the enteral composition of the present invention uniquely provides calorically dense nutritional support while at the same time providing moderate non-protein calories per gram nitrogen (NPC/gN). Specifically, the present invention uniquely provides an enteral composition having a clinically acceptable ratio of non-protein calories per gram nitrogen of at least approximately 90:1; for example about 140:1 to about 100:1.

Moreover, due to the calorically dense nature of the composition of the present invention, the composition includes 100% of U.S. RDA of vitamins and minerals in approximately 1500 kcal (1000 mL).

The present invention also provides a method for providing nutrition to a metabolically stressed patient. The method includes administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a composition having a caloric density of at least approximately 1.4 kcal/mL. The composition with such increased caloric density includes a protein source comprising approximately 15% to 20% of the calorie distribution of the composition, a carbohydrate source, and a lipid source including a mixture of medium and long chain triglycerides.

An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a nutritional composition that is ready-to-use, nutritionally complete, and contains proteins, lipids, vitamins and minerals in proportions suitable for older children (10+ years) and adults.

Moreover, an advantage of the present invention is that it provides a nutritional diet for tube as well as oral use designed for optimal tolerance and absorption in metabolically stressed patients.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a composition containing hydrolyzed whey protein, medium chain triglycerides and maltodextrin to enhance absorption in metabolically stressed patients.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it provides calorically dense nutritional support in the form of an elemental diet while at the same time providing a moderate NPC/gN ratio (non-protein calories per gram nitrogen) of greater than at least approximately 90:1; for example about 140:1 to about 100:1.

Still further, an advantage of the present invention is the high caloric density will be especially useful for patients using the composition as a supplement (i.e. HIV, cystic fibrosis) and as a nocturnal feeding (cystic fibrosis).

Claim 1 of 21 Claims

We claim:

1. An enteral composition designed for metabolically stressed patients comprising:

a protein source comprising approximately 15% to 20% of the calorie distribution of the composition, the protein source consisting of hydrolyzed whey protein;

a carbohydrate source; and

a lipid source including a mixture of medium and long chain triglycerides, the enteral composition having a caloric density of at least 1.4 kcal/mL, wherein the composition provides a ratio of non-protein calories per gram of nitrogen of about 140:1 to about 100:1.

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