title: Micronutrient content in enteral nutrition formulas: comparison with the dietary reference values for healthy populations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The micronutrient content in standard enteral mixtures should be closer to the dietary reference values for a healthy population since standard enteral diets are formulated for subjects with no special nutritional needs. This study compares the micronutrient content of the most common enteral nutrition (EN) formulas with European dietary reference values (DRVs) for healthy population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-two nutritionally complete enteral formulas were considered. The micronutrient content was calculated by multiplying the value reported on the nutritional information panel of each formula by the daily dose usually prescribed. The comparison between the micronutrient content of all enteral formulas evaluated and the DRVs indicates that daily fluoride and vitamin K requirements were not covered, while an oversupply of many other micronutrients was provided. Moreover, in some enteral formulas, at a dose of 2000 Kcal/day, zinc and vitamin A content exceeded the tolerable upper limits and, for one diabetes-specific enteral formula, the chromium content exceeded the relevant European standards in both 1500 and 2000 Kcal/day diets.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most enteral formulas evaluated are generally suitable for patients on long-term total EN and formulas with higher content of a specific micronutrient may be a useful tool for patients affected by specific clinical conditions, at least for a period of time, then switching to standard enteral mixtures. The availability of nutritional enteral formulas, well balanced also for micronutrient intake, will further improve individualized treatments, particularly for patients on long-term total EN.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition Unit - Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, "Federico II" University Medical School, via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy. roberto.iacone@unina.it.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Iacone
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition Unit - Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, "Federico II" University Medical School, via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Clelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scanzano
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition Unit - Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, "Federico II" University Medical School, via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santarpia
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition Unit - Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, "Federico II" University Medical School, via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Isanto
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition Unit - Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, "Federico II" University Medical School, via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Contaldo
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition Unit - Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, "Federico II" University Medical School, via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pasanisi
mesh_terms: D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D002149:Energy Intake; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D005526:Food, Formulated / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D064167:Recommended Dietary Allowances; D012016:Reference Values; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients; D014812:Vitamin K; D015032:Zinc; D005459:Fluorides
keywords: Dietary reference values; Enteral nutrition; Micronutrients; Tolerable upper limit; Trace elements; Vitamins