It is a strong and commonly held belief among nutrition clinicians that enteral nutrition is preferable to parenteral nutrition. We provide a narrative review of more recent studies and technical reviews comparing enteral nutrition with parenteral nutrition. Despite significant weaknesses in the existing data, current literature continues to support the use of enteral nutrition in patients requ...

We published the first article that addressed hypocaloric, high-protein enteral nutrition therapy for critically ill patients with obesity more than 10 years ago. This study demonstrated that it was possible to successfully achieve this mode of therapy with a commercially available high-protein enteral formula and concurrent use of protein supplements. This study was also the first to demonstra...

Nutrition support should be considered optional when this therapy is not in congruence with an individual's wishes based on quality of life goals, during the end-of-life period. Ethical dilemmas, dealing with nutrition therapy, are often due to lack of early communication between individuals, their family, and healthcare providers. Landmark young adult ethical court cases, dealing with nutritio...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Perioperative nutrition has been extensively studied, but numerous questions remain unanswered. This review focuses on new developments in nutrient delivery in the immediate perioperative period. Issues specifically addressed include which patients are most likely to benefit from perioperative nutritional supplementation, and the optimal route, timing, and quantity of nutrient...

Nutrition is an important aspect of caring for patients with life-threatening illness. Good nutrition support is essential, not only for meeting the body's physical requirements but also because of associated social, cultural and psychological benefits for patients. The author uses examples from cancer and motor neurone disease to illustrate the nutrition needs, legal and ethical issues and spe...

Acute pancreatitis is a disease with varying severity. Patients with the mild form do not require nutritional support because oral intake is resumed rapidly. Studies on nutritional support in acute pancreatitis have included patients with both mild and severe disease. In this heterogeneous group, total parenteral nutrition did not improve outcome compared with no nutrition at all. This is cause...

A clinical nutrition support pharmacist training program, in collaboration with the Spanish Foundation of Hospital Pharmacy, Spanish Society of Clinical Nutrition, Abbott Nutrition International, University of Tennessee, College of Pharmacy and Regional One Health, is described. Nutrition support pharmacists from Spain were selected to participate in a one-month training program with an experie...

Short answer questions 1. Why is it difficult to have an evidence‐based demonstration that artificial nutrition is useful in weight‐losing hypophagic patients undergoing chemotherapy? 2. Why does oral supplementation in weight‐losing cancer patients have a limited efficacy? 3. In patients receiving a full regimen of total parenteral nutrition or enteral nutrition, this nutritional support is un...

Malnutrition is common in patients who are admitted to hospital, and many patients lose weight during hospital admission. Malnutrition is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Artificial nutrition support benefits nutritional status in malnourished patients, it can lead to reduced morbidity and hospital stay, and more rapid recovery from illness. • Nutritional screening of hospital...