Method for providing nutrition to elderly patients

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for providing nutrition to elderly patients. Pursuant to the present invention, the enteral composition includes a protein source, a lipid source, and a carbohydrate source. Preferably, the protein source includes at least 18% of the total calories. In an embodiment, the carbohydrate source includes a source of dietary fiber including a balance of soluble to insoluble fiber ratio of approximately 1:3. Still further, the composition of the present invention also includes increased levels of certain vitamins and minerals.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method for providing nutrition to an elderly patient comprising enterally administering to the patient an effective amount of a composition comprising: a protein source including at least 18% of the calorie distribution of the composition;   a carbohydrate source;   a lipid source including a mixture of medium and long chain triglycerides; and   a dietary fiber source including soluble and insoluble fiber.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition provides at least 100% of the USRDA of vitamins and minerals in approximately 1200 calories. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1 wherein the long chain triglycerides are selected to provide a ratio of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids of about 4:1 to about 0:1. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition includes a source of beta-carotene. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition includes the following vitamins and minerals: Vitamins 120 to 300 mg/L   Zinc 15 to 30 mg/L   Vitamin D 400 to 800 mg/L   Vitamin E 60 to 180 mg/L   Vitamin A 3000 to 6000 IU/L   Folic Acid 400 to 1600 μg/L   Vitamin B 6  2 to 8 mg/L   Vitamin B 12  6 to 18 μg/L   Thiamine 1.5 to 3 mg/L   Riboflavin 1.7 to 3.5 mg/L   Calcium 800 to 1600 mg/L   Selenium 50 to 150 mg/L.   
     
     
       6. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition has a caloric density of approximately 1.2 kcal/ml. 
     
     
       7. A method for providing nutrition to an elderly patient comprising enterally administering to the patient an effective amount of a composition comprising: a protein source including at least 18% of the calorie distribution;   a carbohydrate source including a source of dietary fiber including soluble fiber and insoluble fiber; and   a lipid source including a mixture of medium and long chain triglycerides wherein the long chain triglycerides are selected to provide a ratio of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids of about 4:1 to about 10:1.   
     
     
       8. The method of claim 7, wherein the protein source comprises at least 18% of the calorie distribution of the composition. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 7 wherein the composition provides at least 100% of the USRDA of vitamins and minerals in approximately 1200 calories. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 7 wherein the composition includes a source of beta-carotene. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 7 wherein the composition includes the following vitamins and minerals: Vitamin C 120 to 300 mg/L   Zinc 15 to 30 mg/L   Vitamin D 400 to 800 mg/L   Vitamin E 60 to 180 mg/L   Vitamin A 3000 to 6000 IU/L   Folic Acid 400 to 1600 μg/L   Vitamin B 6  2 to 8 mg/L   Vitamin B 12  6 to 18 μg/L   Thiamine 1.5 to 3 mg/L   Riboflavin 1.7 to 3.5 mg/L   Calcium 800 to 1600 mg/L   Selenium 50 to 150 mg/L.   
     
     
       12. The method of claim 7 wherein the composition has a caloric density of approximately 1.2 kcal/ml. 
     
     
       13. A method for providing nutrition to an elderly patient comprising enterally administering to the patient an effective amount of a composition comprising: a protein source comprising at least 18% of calorie distribution;   a carbohydrate source including a source of dietary fiber including soluble and insoluble fiber;   a lipid source including a mixture of medium and long chain triglycerides;   a vitamin and mineral source including the following vitamins and minerals in their respective amounts:   Vitamin C 120 to 300 mg/L   Zinc 15 to 30 mg/L   Vitamin D 400 to 800 mg/L   Vitamin E 60 to 180 mg/L   
     
     
       14. The method of claim 13 wherein the long chain triglycerides are selected to provide a ratio of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids of about 4:1 to about 10:1. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 13 wherein the composition has a caloric density of approximately 1.2 kcal/mL. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 13 wherein the composition includes at least 100% of USRDA of vitamins and minerals in approximately 1200 calories. .Iadd. 
     
     
       17.  A method for providing nutrition to an elderly patient comprising enterally administering to the patient an effective amount of a composition comprising: a protein source including at least 18% of the calorie distribution of the composition;   a carbohydrate source including a source of dietary fiber, the source of dietary fiber including a mixture of soluble and insoluble fibers;   a lipid source; and   a source of beta-carotene. .Iaddend..Iadd.18. The method of claim 17 wherein the composition includes approximately 2 to 10 mg/L of beta-carotene. .Iaddend..Iadd.19. The method of claim 17 further comprising a vitamin and mineral source, the vitamin and mineral source providing at least 100% of the USRDA of vitamins and minerals in 1200 calories. .Iaddend..Iadd.20. The method of claim 17 further comprising a vitamin and mineral source, the vitamin and mineral source including the following vitamins and minerals in their respective amounts:   Vitamin C 120 to 300 mg/L   Zinc 15 to 30 mg/L   Vitamin D 400 to 800 mg/L   Vitamin E 60 to 180 mg/L   Vitamin A 3000 to 6000 IU/L   Folic Acid 400 to 1600 μg/L   Vitamin B 6  2 to 8 mg/L   Vitamin B 12  6 to 18 μg/L   Thiamine 1.5 to 3 mg/L   Riboflavin 1.7 to 3.5 mg/L   Calcium 800 to 1600 mg/L   
     
     
       Selenium 50 to 150 mg/L. .Iaddend..Iadd.21.  The method of claim 17 wherein the composition has a caloric density of approximately 1.2 kcal/mL. .Iaddend..Iadd.22. The method of claim 17 wherein the lipid source includes a mixture of medium and long chain triglycerides, the lipid source including at least 20% medium chain triglycerides and the long chain triglycerides are selected to provide a ratio of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids of 4:1 to 10:1. .Iaddend..Iadd.23. A method for providing nutrition to an elderly patient comprising enterally administering to the patient an effective amount of a composition comprising: a protein source including at least 18% of the calorie distribution;   a carbohydrate source including a source of dietary fiber, the source of dietary fiber including a mixture of soluble and insoluble fibers;   a lipid source; and   a vitamin and mineral source providing at least 100% of the USRDA of vitamins and minerals in 1200 calories. .Iaddend..Iadd.24. The method of claim 23 wherein the composition includes approximately 2 to 10 mg/L of beta-carotene. .Iaddend..Iadd.25. The method of claim 23 further comprising a vitamin and mineral source, the vitamin and mineral source including the following vitamins and minerals in their respective amounts:   Vitamin C 120 to 300 mg/L   Zinc 15 to 30 mg/L   Vitamin D 400 to 800 IU/L   Vitamin E 60 to 180 IU/L   Vitamin A 3000 to 6000 IU/L   Folic Acid 400 to 1600 μg/L   Vitamin B 6  2 to 8 mg/L   Vitamin B 12  6 to 18 μg/L   Thiamine 1.5 to 3 mg/L   Riboflavin 1.7 to 3.5 mg/L   Calcium 800 to 1600 mg/L   
     
     
       Selenium 50 to 150 mg/L. .Iaddend..Iadd.26.  The method of claim 23 wherein the composition has a caloric density of approximately 1.2 kcal/mL. .Iaddend..Iadd.27. The method of claim 23 wherein the lipid source includes a mixture of medium and long chain triglycerides, the lipid source including at least 20% medium chain triglycerides and the long chain triglycerides are selected to provide a ratio of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids of 4:1 to 10:1. .Iaddend..Iadd.28. A method for providing nutrition to an elderly patient comprising enterally administering to the patient an effective amount of a composition comprising: a protein source including at least 18% of the caloric distribution;   a carbohydrate source including a source of dietary fiber, the source of dietary fiber including a mixture of soluble and insoluble fibers;   a lipid source including long chain triglycerides that are selected to provide a ratio of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids of 4:1 to 10:1; and   
     
     
       a source of beta-carotene. .Iaddend..Iadd.29.  The method of claim 28 wherein the composition includes approximately 2 to 10 mg/L of beta-carotene. .Iaddend..Iadd.30. The method of claim 28 further comprising a vitamin and mineral source, the vitamin and mineral source providing at least 100% of the USRDA of vitamins and minerals in 1200 calories. .Iaddend..Iadd.31. The method of claim 28 further comprising a vitamin and mineral source, the vitamin and mineral source including the following vitamins and minerals in their respective amounts: Vitamin C 120 to 300 mg/L   Zinc 15 to 30 mg/L   Vitamin D 400 to 800 IU/L   Vitamin E 60 to 180 IU/L   Vitamin A 3000 to 6000 IU/L   Folic Acid 400 to 1600 μg/L   Vitamin B 6  2 to 8 mg/L   Vitamin B 12  6 to 18 μg/L   Thiamine 1.5 to 3 mg/L   Riboflavin 1.7 to 3.5 mg/L   Calcium 800 to 1600 mg/L   Selenium 50 to 150 mg/L. .Iaddend..Iadd.32. The method of claim 28 wherein the composition has a caloric density of approximately 1.2 kcal/mL. .Iaddend..Iadd.33. The method of claim 28 wherein the lipid source includes a mixture of medium and long chain triglycerides, the lipid source including at least 20% medium chain triglycerides. .Iaddend..Iadd.34. A method for providing nutrition to an elderly patient comprising enterally administering to the patient an effective amount of a composition comprising:   a protein source comprising at least 18% of the calorie distribution of the composition;   a carbohydrate source including a source of dietary fiber, the source of dietary fiber including a mixture of soluble and insoluble fibers, the carbohydrate source comprising approximately 48% to 55% of the calorie distribution of the composition;   a lipid source comprising approximately 26% to 36% of the calorie distribution of the composition;   a source of beta-carotene; and   a vitamin and mineral source providing at least 100% of the USRDA of   
     
     
        vitamins and minerals in 1200 calories. .Iaddend..Iadd.35.  A method for correcting protein energy malnutrition in an elderly patient comprising enterally administering to the elderly patient an effective amount of a composition comprising: a protein source comprising including a source of dietary fiber, the source of dietary fiber including a mixture of soluble and insoluble fibers;   a lipid source; and   a source of beta-carotene. .Iaddend..Iadd.36. A method for providing increased energy and nutrition but a minimal amount of fluid in an elderly patient comprising enterally administering to the elderly patient an effective amount of a composition comprising:   a protein source including at least 18% of the calorie distribution;   a carbohydrate source including a source of dietary fiber, the source of dietary fiber including a mixture of soluble and insoluble fibers;   a lipid source; and   a vitamin and mineral source providing at least 100% of the USRDA of vitamins and minerals in 1200 calories. .Iaddend.