title: A tube-fed liquid formula diet containing dietary fiber increased stool weight in bed-ridden elderly patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The number of bedridden elderly patients who need a liquid diet has been increasing. We evaluated the usefulness of a tube-fed liquid diet containing cellulose and oligosaccharide for elderly bedridden patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two elderly bedridden patients were given a liquid diet containing cellulose and lafinose for 4 wk. Parameters associated with blood and stool weight were measured during this period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stool weight increased by 32.0 g in men and 8.8 g in women at 2 wk and remained at these weights up to 4 wk (P < 0.05 before and after 2 wk, 3 wk, and 4 wk in men, and P < 0.05 before and after 3 wk in women). Body weight increased in men (0.5 kg) and women (0.7 kg) 15 d after starting the diet and then remained at these values up to 29 d thereafter, and statistically significant differences were not seen. There were no changes in nutritional parameters such as total protein.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No significant changes were observed in the general condition of elderly patients, with the exception of a positive increase in fecal weight, by 30-d supplementation of a liquid diet containing cellulose and lafinose.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Hirosaki University, Aomori, Japan. nakaji@cc.hirosaki-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Shigeyuki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakaji
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Umeda
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kumae
authors.forename: Seikou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Totsuka
authors.forename: Koki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugawara
authors.forename: Shinsaku
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukuda
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001510:Bed Rest / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003672:Defecation / Q000187:drug effects; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005526:Food, Formulated; D006801:Humans; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D002482:Cellulose