title: The effect of different carbohydrate intakes on body weight and nitrogen balance during nasogastric feeding after faciomaxillary surgery.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Clinical Chemistry, City Hospital, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Woolfson
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Macdonald
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Pearl
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hardy