A 2-Week Course of Enteral Treatment with a Very Low-Calorie Protein-Based Formula for the Management of Severe XXXX .

@entity1 @entity353 @entity28 @entity413 @entity414
Background. Multiple @entity353 failures among @entity28 @entity1 suggest the design of new therapeutic strategies. We investigated the role of 2-week course of enteral treatment with a very low-calorie protein-based formula in the management of severe @entity28 . Methods. We evaluated the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of 2-week continuous administration of a protein-based formula (1.2   g/kg of ideal body weight/day) by nasogastric tube in severely @entity28 adults (body mass index (BMI) >=  40   kg/m(2)). Results. In total, 364 @entity1 (59% @entity1 ; BMI = 46.6    7.2   kg/m(2)) were recruited. The intervention was discontinued within 48 hours in 26 @entity1 , due to nasogastric tube intolerance. No serious adverse events occurred. During the first and the second week, 65% and 80% @entity1 , respectively, reported no side effects. All biochemical safety parameters were affected by the intervention, particularly @entity414 (+45%) and aminotransferases (+48%). In the other cases the change was negligible. We observed significant @entity353 (5.7    2.3%) and improvement in blood pressure and @entity413 and lipid metabolism parameters (P < 0.001). Conclusions. A 2-week course of enteral treatment with a very low-calorie protein-based formula appeared a feasible, likely safe, and efficacious therapeutic option to be considered for inclusion into a composite @entity353 program for the management of severe @entity28 . This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01965990.
