AJP - Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vol 251, Issue 5 524-E529, Copyright © 1986 by American Physiological Society
Continuous versus single bolus enteral nutrition: comparison of energy metabolism in humans
C. A. Nacht, Y. Schutz, O. Vernet, L. Christin and E. Jequier
Continuous respiratory exchange measurements were performed on five women
and five men for 1 h before and 6 h after the administration of a milkshake
(53% carbohydrates, 30% lipid, and 17% protein energy) given either as a
single bolus dose or continuously during 3 h using a nasogastric tube. The
energy administered corresponded to 2.3 times the postabsorptive resting
energy expenditure. Resting energy expenditure, respiratory quotient,
plasma glucose, and insulin concentrations increased sooner and steeper,
and plasma free fatty acids levels decreased earlier with the meal ingested
as a single dose than with continuous administration. The magnitude of
nutrient-induced thermogenesis was greater (P less than 0.01) with the
single dose (means +/- SE, 10.0 +/- 0.6%) than with the continuous
administration (8.1 +/- 0.5%). The overall (6 h) substrate balances were
not significantly different between the two modes of administration. It is
concluded that the mode of enteral nutrient administration influences the
immediate thermogenic response as well as changes in respiratory quotient,
glycemia, and insulinemia; however, the overall nutrient balance was not
affected by the mode of enteral nutrient administration.
