The effect of different carbohydrate intakes on body weight and nitrogen balance during nasogastric feeding after faciomaxillary surgery.
In order to assess the effects on body composition of different carbohydrate intakes when nitrogen supply is constant and adequate (9 g/day), we gave either no carbohydrate, sufficient to avoid ketosis (100 g) or at least enough to satisfy energy needs (600 g) to a group of six patients after major faciomaxillary surgery. Each patient was given the different feeds for 3-day periods in a randomised, cross over design. 100 g carbohydrate was effective in avoiding negative nitrogen balance, but weight loss was only prevented when 600 g was used. Differences in water balance suggest that mobilisation and repletion of body glycogen (with associated water) probably account for most of these differences in body weight changes.
Woolfson
A M
AM
Dept. of Clinical Chemistry, City Hospital, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK.
Macdonald
I A
IA
Pearl
K N
KN
Hardy
S M
SM