Nutrition Support: Digestion and Absorption

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Questions and Answers

In managing patients with a history of poor oral intake, nausea, and depressed appetite resulting in prolonged weight loss, which dietary strategy is most likely to improve their oral nutrient intake?

Providing six small, low-fat meals throughout the day to reduce the feeling of fullness and improve tolerance. (correct)
Prioritizing solid meals while restricting fluids to prevent early satiety and maximize nutrient density.
Incorporating fiber-supplemented snacks three times daily to promote satiety and reduce hunger between meals.
Administering a high-energy oral liquid supplement thrice daily to maximize caloric intake.

Why is fermentable fiber considered a beneficial component in enteral formulas for patients requiring long-term nutritional support?

It increases the osmotic load in the intestine, preventing dehydration and facilitating electrolyte absorption.
It mechanically stimulates peristalsis, preventing constipation and promoting regular bowel movements.
It is metabolized by colonic bacteria into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), promoting intestinal mucosal health and providing an energy source. (correct)
It directly provides glucose to the intestinal mucosa, enhancing nutrient absorption.

In formulating oral rehydration solutions for patients experiencing diarrhea, what is the primary rationale for including both sodium and glucose?

Sodium facilitates the passive absorption of glucose, which in turn enhances water uptake through osmotic action.
Glucose provides energy for the intestinal cells to actively absorb sodium, thus drawing water into the body.
Glucose promotes active transport of sodium across the intestinal membrane, subsequently enhancing water absorption. (correct)
Sodium and glucose combine to form a complex that directly stimulates water absorption in the colon.

What is the most important consideration when using enteral nutrition (EN) in patients with altered gastrointestinal (GI) motility?

Utilizing continuous infusion to improve tolerance and absorption, tailored to individual GI function. (D) Signup and view all the answers

How does the regulation of appetite typically change when transitioning a patient off of parenteral nutrition and onto an oral diet?

Appetite may be suppressed initially due to hormonal and metabolic adjustments, requiring a gradual transition. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the role of the migrating motor complex (MMC) in the context of enteral nutrition?

It clears residual contents from the stomach and small intestine between meals, preventing bacterial overgrowth. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main implication of impaired gastric accommodation in patients receiving nutrition support?

Higher likelihood of early satiety, nausea, and vomiting, potentially hindering nutritional goals. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key consideration when selecting the most appropriate type of enteral formula for a patient with significant malabsorption?

Opting for a hydrolyzed or elemental formula to facilitate easier digestion and absorption of nutrients. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which strategy is most effective for managing diarrhea associated with enteral feeding?

Evaluating for potential causes such as medication side effects or bacterial contamination, and adjusting the formula or administration method accordingly. (B) Signup and view all the answers

How does the composition of the gut microbiota influence the effectiveness of enteral nutrition?

Specific microbial communities can mediate inflammation and impact nutrient absorption, potentially exacerbating malnutrition. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Improving Oral Nutrient Intake

Offering 6 small, low-fat meals daily helps improve oral nutrient intake in patients with a prolonged history of weight loss, nausea, and decreased appetite.

Benefits of Fermentable Fiber

Fermentable fiber promotes short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production by colonic bacteria, which exert trophic effects on the intestinal mucosa.

Nutrients for Rehydration

Sodium and glucose are added to rehydration liquids to enhance water absorption in patients experiencing diarrhea.

Study Notes

The regulation of appetite should be taken into account when formulating transitional feeding regimens.
Knowledge of gastrointestinal (GI) motility physiology is applicable when planning enteral nutrition (EN) regimens for patients that have altered GI motility.
Understanding the mechanisms of both digestion and the absorption of various nutrients is important.
The functions of each GI system component should be associated with their effects on nutrient digestion and absorption as well as implications for nutrition support.

Test Your Knowledge Questions

Offering 6 small, low-fat meals daily is most likely to improve oral nutrient intake for patients that have a prolonged history of weight loss due to poor intake, nausea, and depressed appetite.
Colonic bacteria act on fiber to produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that provide an energy source to the intestinal mucosa.
Sodium and glucose is added to rehydration liquids to promote water absorption in patients with diarrhea.
Patients experiencing a prolonged negative energy balance experience a decline in the stomach's adaptive accommodation function.

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