title: Enteral nutrition and the function of the intestinal microflora in healthy adults.
abstract: An oral feeding formula was given to 5 healthy volunteers for 8 days. Faecal samples were collected before, during and after the feeding period. The effect of enteral nutrition (EN) on the following seven intestinal microflora-associated characteristics (MACs) was studied: formation of urobilinogen, coprostanol and deoxycholic acid, degradation of mucin and beta-aspartylglycine, faecal tryptic activity, and production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). None of the microbial functions studied were lost during the study. The urobilinogen level increased during EN (P < 0.05) but it seems reasonable to assume that this was a concentration effect due to a decrease in stool mass. The concentration of SCFAs decreased during EN (P < 0.05) and this reflects the absence of dietary fibre in the feed used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbial Ecology, Karolinska Institutet, Box 60400, S-10401 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Leijonmarck
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Carlstedt-Duke
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gustafsson
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Midtvedt
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Norin
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saxerholt
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Midtvedt