title: Refeeding syndrome is uncommon in alcoholics admitted to a hospital detoxification unit.
abstract: The refeeding syndrome is increasingly recognised. It is a serious change in electrolytes when nutrition is reintroduced to malnourished patients. Alcohol dependence is a risk factor for the refeeding syndrome. We report a prospective cohort study of 36 alcoholics hospitalised for withdrawal management. We found no evidence of refeeding syndrome in any patient after 3 days of hospitalisation, despite hypomagnesaemia, a risk factor for the refeeding syndrome being prevalent (44% of subjects). Low thiamine levels were infrequent affecting 3/29 (10%). We recommend that in alcoholics admitted for managed withdrawal, risk of refeeding syndrome appears to be low, and routine testing of repeat electrolytes appears unnecessary.
authors.affiliation: Capital and Coast District Health Board, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manning
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gilmour
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weatherall
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004032:Diet; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055677:Refeeding Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D013831:Thiamine / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013832:Thiamine Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D013831:Thiamine
keywords: alcohol dependence; detoxification; hypophosphataemia; refeeding syndrome