营养环境与人群营养素摄入水平的相关性

完善了营养环境的概念及指标，提出可以用线性规划建立的数学模型计算营养环境的指标，即由该模型得出的营养素的理论达标率和营养素的边际成本。用天津１９８９年的营养素的理论达标率和１９８８年天津人群的营养素实际达标率进行线性回归分析，得出回归方程：实际达标率（％）Ｙ＝１５．１５（％）＋０．７８８Ｘ（Ｘ为理论达标率，％），其相关性显著（Ｒ＝０．９８６，Ｐ＜０．００１）；还发现天津营养环境中脂肪、动物性蛋白质的边际成本大于零。讨论了上述方程的意义，营养环境与营养干预的关系。认为，改善食物的营养素含量、降低价格、增加营养素含量丰富的食物品种的营养干预措施，效果较好。     

The enteral vs parenteral nutrition debate revisited

Many trials and several meta-analyses have been devoted to comparing enteral with parenteral nutrition support. In this review, these studies are subjected to critical analysis with particular emphasis on their methodology and clinical relevance. Evidence is produced to suggest that the heterogeneous patient populations of the studies and the rigid approach taken to comparing different nutrition therapies inter alia render their conclusions highly questionable and of very doubtful clinical significance. An alternative approach to nutrition research is suggested in which strategies of nutrition support rather than fixed menus are compared. It is suggested that objective measures of intestinal function be evaluated more fully in patients requiring nonvolitional nutrition support, and these are briefly reviewed. In addition, a more scientific approach to evaluating the physiological effects of nutrition support, including chemical tagging and evaluation of muscle function, is recommended.     

Ceramide in Lipid Emulsions Used in Parenteral Nutrition

Parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease is a prevalent and severe complication of long term parenteral nutrition. We present here for the first time data on the presence of ceramide, a bioactive compound involved in a variety of metabolic processes, in different lipid emulsions used in parenteral nutrition. Further research is needed to determine whether this potential harmful bioactive compound is involved in parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease.     

Nutrition knowledge and attitudes of New Zealand registered midwives

Aim: The importance of nutrition for a healthy pregnancy is well established. In New Zealand, the majority of women choose midwives as their maternity provider. Therefore, it is important that midwives have an understanding of nutrition issues related to pregnancy. The purpose of the present study was to determine the nutrition knowledge of New Zealand midwives, and to assess the importance they place on nutrition during pregnancy. Methods: An 18‐question postal survey was sent to all members of the New Zealand College of Midwives (n = 1340). Results: A total of 370 questionnaires were returned (response rate of 27.6%). Less than 40% of midwives reported that they had formal nutrition education; however, nearly 75% of respondents indicated that they had received nutrition information through their midwifery education. Most midwives indicated that nutrition was important or very important during pregnancy (98.4%), and that they had a significant or very significant role in educating pregnant women (94.9%) about nutrition. Midwives generally reported a high level of confidence in dealing with nutrition‐related issues. Midwives answered most of the nutrition knowledge questions correctly. However, 64.6% of midwives (n = 369) incorrectly identified spirulina as a good source of iron for vegetarians, 28.1% (n = 104) incorrectly answered that maternal intake of cabbage and beans are often responsible for colic in breastfed infants, and 40.0% (n = 128) incorrectly answered that to reduce food allergies all lactating women should avoid peanuts and shellfish. Conclusion: Overall, midwives were knowledgeable on nutrition issues related to pregnancy and reported a high level of confidence on educating women about nutrition.     

Practice Analysis of Nutrition Support Professionals

Background: The National Board of Nutrition Support Certification (NBNSC) is an independent credentialing board responsible for administering the multidisciplinary certification examination in nutrition support. For an exam to be legally and practically defensible, it must represent practice. Validation is by practice audit, the highest level of supporting evidence. Objectives: To define the role of the nutrition support professional (NSP) and the current elements (knowledge and functions) required for competent NSP practice. Methods: A survey instrument was constructed using a content validation strategy to establish the link between job tasks and the content of the examination. Internet‐based surveys were made available to 5100 NSPs. NSP duties performed and knowledge required for patient safety and welfare were analyzed for the group as a whole and for each profession separately. Results: A total of 765 surveys were completed (return rate of 15%). The results of the practice audit demonstrate a common core of practice across the nutrition support disciplines as well as a universal core of elements believed to be important for competent nutrition support practice. Conclusion: The results of this survey continue to support a common core of practice across nutrition support disciplines as well as a common core of elements believed to be important for competent nutrition support practice. Accordingly, the NBNSC will continue to offer one examination to all disciplines both nationally and internationally and confer the Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC) credential to all individuals who successfully pass this validated examination.     

Future Doctors' Perceptions about Incorporating Nutrition into Standard Care Practice

Objective: The increasing prevalence of chronic disease has been largely attributed to long-term poor nutrition and lifestyle choices. This study investigates the attitudes of our future physicians toward nutrition and the likelihood of incorporating nutrition principles into current treatment protocols.Methods: Setting: The setting of this study was an Australian university medical school. Subjects: Subjects including year 1–4 students (n = 928) in a 4-year medical bachelor, bachelor of surgery (MBBS) degree program. Students were invited to participate in a questionnaire based on an existing instrument, the Nutrition in Patient Care Attitude (NIPC) Questionnaire, to investigate their attitudes toward nutrition in health care practices.Results: Respondents indicated that “high risk patients should be routinely counseled on nutrition” (87%), “nutrition counseling should be routine practice” (70%), and “routine nutritional assessment and counseling should occur in general practice” (57%). However, despite overall student support of nutritional counseling (70%) and assessment (86%), students were reluctant to perform actual dietary assessments, with only 38% indicating that asking for a food diary or other measure of dietary intake was important.Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that future physicians are aware of the importance of considering nutrition counseling and assessment. However, students are unlikely to adequately integrate relevant nutritional information into their treatment protocols, evidenced by their limited use of a basic nutritional assessment. This is potentially the result of a lack of formal nutrition education within their basic training.     

Transition Phase Nutrition Recommendations: A Missing Link in the Nutrition Management of Preterm Infants

Background: Despite the availability of international nutrition recommendations, preterm infants remain vulnerable to suboptimal nutrition. The standard approach of assessing nutrient intakes chronologically may make it difficult to identify the origin of nutrient deficits and/or excesses. Objective: To develop a “nutrition phase” approach to evaluating nutrition support, enabling analysis of nutrient intakes during the period of weaning from parenteral nutrition (PN) to enteral nutrition (EN), called the transition (TN) phase, and compare the data with those analyzed using the standard “chronological age” approach to assess whether the identification of nutrient deficits and/or excesses can be improved. Methods: Analysis of a comprehensive nutrition database developed using actual nutrient intake data collected on an hourly basis in 59 preterm infants (birth weight ≤1500 g, gestation <34 weeks) over the period of PN delivery (range, 2–21 days). Results: The nutrition phase analysis approach revealed substantial macronutrient and energy deficits during the TN phase. In particular, deficits were identified as maximal during the EN‐dominant TN phase (enteral feeds ≥80 mL/kg/d) of the infant’s nutrition course. In contrast, the chronological age analysis approach did not reveal a corresponding pattern of deficit occurrence but rather intakes that approximated or exceeded recommendations. Conclusion: Actual intakes of nutrients, analyzed using a nutrition phase approach to evaluating nutrition support, enabled a more infant‐driven rather than age‐driven application of nutrition recommendations. This approach unmasked nutrient deficits occurring during the transition phase. Overcoming nutrient deficits in this nutrition phase should be prioritized to improve the nutrition management of preterm infants.     

Parenteral Nutrition Utilization After Implementation of Multidisciplinary Nutrition Support Team Oversight

Background: Multidisciplinary nutrition teams can help guide the use of parenteral nutrition (PN), thereby reducing infectious risk, morbidity, and associated costs. Starting in 2007 at Harborview Medical Center, weekly multidisciplinary meetings were established to review all patients receiving PN. This study reports on observed changes in utilization from 2005–2010. Materials and Methods: All patients who received PN from 2005–2010 were followed prospectively. Clinical data and PN utilization data were recorded. Patients were grouped into cohorts based on exposure to weekly multidisciplinary nutrition team meetings (from 2005–2007 and from 2008–2010). Patients were also stratified by location, primary service, and ultimate disposition. Results: In total, 794 patients were included. After initiation of multidisciplinary nutrition meetings, the rate of patients who started PN decreased by 27% (relative risk [RR], 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63–0.84). A reduction in the number of patients receiving PN was observed in both the intensive care unit (ICU) and on the acute care floor (RR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.53–0.77 and RR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.64–0.99, respectively). The rate of patients with short‐duration PN use (PN duration of <5 days) declined by 30% in the ICU (RR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.51–0.97) and by 27% on acute care floors (RR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.51–1.03). Conclusions: Weekly multidisciplinary review of patients receiving PN was associated with reductions in the number of patients started on PN, total days that patients received PN, and number of patients who had short‐duration (<5 days) PN use.     

“CAN WE FEED?” A Mnemonic to Merge Nutrition and Intensive Care Assessment of the Critically Ill Patient

As care of the critically ill patient grows more complex, so does the breadth of knowledge required of the intensivist to deliver quality service. Nutrition is one area of many where the complexity of care has grown and the opportunity for improving patient outcomes has become evident. The use of mnemonics has proven successful in compartmentalizing information that must be considered in complex decision‐making processes. The authors propose one such mnemonic, “CAN WE FEED?” to assist in the development and initiation of early enteral nutrition therapy in the intensive care unit (ICU). Critical illness severity (C), age (A), and nutrition risk screening (N) are considered when performing a baseline evaluation of the critically ill patient upon presentation to the ICU. Wait for resuscitation (W) is a key component in the care of most critically ill patients and is an important consideration prior to the initiation of feeding. Energy requirements (E) are determined using conventional weight‐based equations, indirect calorimetry, or combinations of both techniques. The more practical aspects of support that follow include formula selection (F), enteral access (E), efficacy (E), and the determination of tolerance (D). With careful consideration of these components through the use of the mnemonic “CAN WE FEED?” the intensivist can successfully implement a nutrition plan, and the clinical nutritionist can appreciate where nutrition therapy appropriately intervenes in the initial resuscitation and management of the critically ill patient.     

Nutrition therapy in a pediatric intensive care unit: indications, monitoring, and complications

Background: Nutrition therapy (NT) is essential for the care of critically ill children. Inadequate feeding leads to malnutrition and may increase the patient's risk of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to describe the NT used in a tertiary pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Methods: The authors evaluated NT administered to 90 consecutive patients who were hospitalized for 7 days in the PICU of Instituto da Criança, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil. NT was established according to the protocol provided by the institution's NT team. NT provided a balance of fluids and nutrients and was monitored with a weekly anthropometric nutrition assessment and an evaluation of complications. Results: NT was initiated, on average, within 72 hours of hospitalization. Most children (80%) received enteral nutrition (EN) therapy; of these, 35% were fed orally and the rest via nasogastric or postpyloric tube. There were gastrointestinal complications in patients (5%) who needed a postpyloric tube. Parenteral nutrition (PN) was used in only 10% of the cases, and the remaining 10% received mixed NT (EN + PN). The average calorie and protein intake was 82 kcal/kg and 2.7 g/kg per day. Arm circumference and triceps skinfold thickness decreased. Conclusions: The use of EN was prevalent in the tertiary PICU, and few clinical complications occurred. There was no statistically significant change in most anthropometric indicators evaluated during hospitalization, which suggests that NT probably helped patients maintain their nutrition status.     

Melbourne dietitians' experience of Medicare policy on allied health services (strengthening Medicare; Enhanced Primary Care) in the first 12 months

Objective: To describe Victorian private practitioner dietitians’ experience of the Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) program funded under national heath insurance. Design: Dietitians’ experience of the EPC program was investigated between August 2004 and July 2005. A purposive sample of 10% (n = 15) of Victorian dietitians in private practice was interviewed via semi‐structured interviews or focus groups. Focus group/interview data were audio‐taped, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed using NVIVO software to manage data. Subjects: Victorian dietitians. Setting: Dietetic private practice. Main outcome measures: Issues identified from narrative themes. Results: Thirteen (86%) participants were registered with the Medicare Australia and managed EPC‐referred patients. Two chose not to. All those using the program supported it but voiced frustrations experienced in the first year. Five themes emerged from narrative analysis involving difficulties with implementation in the following areas: referral issues, client preparedness, annual number of consultations limit, impact of financial cost on client and non‐reimbursed administration costs. Conclusion: For clients with chronic illness, access to dietitians in private practice under Medicare EPC is an important service. As increasing numbers of dietitians nationally work with EPC patients with chronic illness or complex care needs, there is a need for information sharing between professional groups about billing procedures and chronic care management. More dietitians need to structure practice to initiate bulk‐billing. Rigorous evaluation is needed to understand which diagnosis types can benefit from the program and to implement an evidence‐based model of chronic care improvement for dietetics consultations.     

肠内营养与肠外营养支持的代谢效应

对比术后病人应用肠外(parenteral　nutrition,PN)与肠内(enteral　nutrition,EN)营养支持的代谢效应。20例病人,随机分为肠外营养组(对照组)及肠内营养组(研究组)。于手术后第5～11天给病人以传统的标准肠外营养或肠内营养剂爱伦多(Elental)支持。结果:(1)对照组病人的体重下降2.8±0.2kg,研究组病人的体重下降2.1±0.3kg,两组之间有差异(P=0.09)。(2)对照组的累积氮平衡 105.2±9.2mg·kg~(-1)/7d,研究组的累积氮平衡 184.8±33.2mg·kg~(-1)/7d。研究组明显优于对照组(p=0.03)。(3)血清谷氨酰胺(glutamine)的变化,对照组术前为630±20mmol/L,术后为594±26mmol/L,术后无显著性差异(P=0.55)。(4)血清亚油酸(linolicacid)的变化,对照组术前为101.4±37.7ug/ml,术后116.1±11.2ug/ml,术后血清亚油酸无显著性差异(P=0.65)。研究组术前为151.9±31.2ug/ml,术后101.2±16.5ug/ml,术后有降低,但没有显著性差异(P=0.11)。本研究结果表明,手术后肠功能恢复时,给予肠内营养爱伦多支持比传统的标准肠外营养支持有较好的代谢效应,但必需脂肪酸的补充量尚嫌不足。     

A Comprehensive Nutrition‐Focused Quality Improvement Program Reduces 30‐Day Readmissions and Length of Stay in Hospitalized Patients

Background: Although screening patients for malnutrition risk on hospital admission is standard of care, nutrition shortfalls are undertreated. Nutrition interventions can improve outcomes. We tested effects of a nutrition‐focused quality improvement program (QIP) on hospital readmission and length of stay (LOS). Materials and Methods: QIP included malnutrition risk screening at admission, prompt initiation of oral nutrition supplements (ONS) for at‐risk patients, and nutrition support. A 2‐group, pre‐post design of malnourished adults with any diagnosis was conducted at 4 hospitals: QIP‐basic (QIPb) and QIP‐enhanced (QIPe). Comparator patients had a malnutrition diagnosis and ONS orders. For QIPb, nurses screened all patients on admission using an electronic medical record (EMR)–cued Malnutrition Screening Tool (MST); ONS was provided to patients with MST scores ≥2 within 24–48 hours. QIPe had ONS within 24 hours, postdischarge nutrition instructions, telephone calls, and ONS coupons. Primary outcome was 30‐day unplanned readmission. We used baseline (January 1–December 31, 2013) and validation cohorts (October 13, 2013–April 2, 2014) for comparison. Results: Patients (n = 1269) were enrolled in QIPb (n = 769) and QIPe (n = 500). Analysis included baseline (n = 4611) and validation (n = 1319) comparator patients. Compared with a 20% baseline readmission rate, post‐QIP relative reductions were 19.5% for all QIP, 18% for QIPb, and 22% for QIPe, respectively. Compared with a 22.1% validation readmission rate, relative reductions were 27.1%, 25.8%, and 29.4%, respectively. Similar reductions were noted for LOS. Conclusions: Thirty‐day readmissions and LOS were significantly lowered for malnourished inpatients by use of an EMR‐cued MST, prompt provision of ONS, patient/caregiver education, and sustained nutrition support.     

Quick Fix for Hospital‐Acquired Malnutrition?

Hospital‐acquired malnutrition is universally present across the globe. Little progress has been made on overcoming hospital‐acquired malnutrition despite known presence for at least 40 years. Technologies and methods to deliver the recommended calories and protein are available in most healthcare settings. Despite this, inadequate nutrient delivery continues to be a problem. Correia and colleagues propose a simplified algorithm that assists clinicians in becoming aware of poor nutrient intake and suggest nutrition interventions.