Table 20.5. Medical nutritional product example categories.
Category Typical nutrient content Comments Example clinical reference
General
nutrition
Approximately 15% – 30%
protein, 20% – 40% fat, and
30% – 65% carbohydrates (by
calories). Roughly 25% RDA
of vitamins and minerals is
typical target. Some
antioxidant vitamins higher to
enhance product stability
Products used as supplements
to normal diet, as meal/
snack replacements to
support weight loss efforts,
and as temporary sole
nutrition sources
Products generally marketed on
features, not generally studied
clinically. Conforming to good
nutritional guidelines and often
containing some specialized
ingredients to enhance immune
status, protein nutritional status, etc.
Diabetes Similar to general nutrition
products, but characterized by
higher - end fat content and/or
specialized carbohydrate
blends designed to extend
duration and reduce
magnitude of glycemic blood
response
Products used to provide
people with diabetes meal/
snack alternatives with low
glycemic response.
Available in a number of
different forms, including
meal and snack bars, shakes,
cereals, and puddings.
- Broadhurst CL et al. ( 2006 ) Diabetes
Technology & Therapeutics
8 : 677 – 687 ; 2. Yakamoto K et al.
( 2006 ) Nutrition 22 : 23 – 29 ; 3.
Lichtenstein AH et al. ( 2006 )
Circulation 114 : 82 – 96 ; 4. Katan MB
et al. ( 2003 ) Mayo Clin Proc
78 : 965 – 978
Renal disease,
pre - dialysis
Similar to general nutrition, but
characterized by low protein
content to reduce renal load
Products generally available as
shakes or shake mixes
- Zarazaga A et al ( 2001 )
Clinical Nutrition 20 : 291 – 299 ;
2. Burrowes JD , et al ( 2005 ) J. Am.
Diet. Assoc. 105 ( 4 ): 563 – 572 ; 3. A
Clinical Guide to Nutrition Care in
Kidney Disease, Eds. Byham - Gray
and Wiesen, from the Renal
Dieticians Dietetic Practice Group of
the American Association and the
Council on Renal Nutrition 2004 ,
Chapter 3
Renal disease,
dialysis
Similar to general nutrition, but
designed to replenish
nutrients lost during dialysis,
control blood glucose
fl uxuations, and generally
provide higher protein content
than the pre - dialysis products.
Typically low in specifi c ions,
especially phosphorous,
potassium, calcium, and
sodium.
Usually designed to control
fl uxuations in blood content
and avoid undue kidney
stress while replenishing
nutrients lost to dialysis
- Caglar K et al. ( 2002 ) Kidney Int
62 ( 3 ): 1054 – 1059 ; 2. Wolever T et al
( 2002 ) Can J Diabetes 26 : 356 – 362 ;
3. Wheeler ML , et al ( 1991 ) Diabetes
Care 14 : 769 – 771 ; 4. Wolf BW et al
Nutr Res 2001 ; 21 : 1099 – 1106 ; 5.
Livesey G ( 2001 ) Br J Nutr
85 : S7 – S16
Long - term
care
Usually general - nutrition - like
products, which are used as
oral meal supplements or as
tube feeding products (with
different packaging) to supply
a nutritional gap up to sole
source of nutrition
Generally the low - tech
offering, characterized by
nutritional adequacy in
macronutrient and vitamin/
mineral delivery in
1,000 – 1,500 kcal, usually
offered in several ready - to -
hang tube feeding options,
mainly differing in planned
volume of feeding and with
limited oral sip feed
packaging as well
These products are usually sold on
features, again not generally studied
clinically, but conforming with
dietary standards for long - term sole
source of nutrition. Typically contains
100% RDA of vitamins and minerals
Critical care Wide variety of products
available. Generally includes
a base product (same or
similar to long - term care
offering) as well as a variety
of specialty care products.
Can include products
supplemented with high
levels of PUFAs, antioxidants,
glutamine, arginine, etc. for
the special impact these
nutrients can provide
High - tech nutritional products,
usually backed by moderate
to extensive clinical testing
and characterized by
enrichment in highly
bioactive component(s)
- Singer P et al ( 2006 ) Crit Care Med
34 ( 4 ): 1033 – 1038 ; 2. Pontes - Arruda A
et al ( 2006 ) Crit Care Med
34 ( 9 ): 2325 – 2333 ; 3. Cai B et al
( 2003 ) Nutrition 19 : 229 – 232 ; 4.
Angelillo V et al ( 1985 ) Ann. Intern.
Med. 103 : 883 – 885 ; 5. Brown RO
et al ( 1994 ) Pharmacotherapy 14 :
314 – 320 ; 6. Henningfi eld MF et al
( 1993 ) FASEB J 7 ( 3 ): A377 ; 7
(continued)
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