Information for healthcare professional use only
In this episode of the Inside Medical Nutrition Podcast, Dr. Linia Patel discusses the tolerance of blended diets with experts Lucy Jackman, a paediatric dietitian, and Dr. Graham O'Connor, a research lead for dietetics, both from Great Ormond Children's Hospital.
The conversation begins with the experts sharing their backgrounds and their journey into dietetics. The discussion then shifts to the increasing use of blended diets, which are household foods blended into a liquid form for tube feeding. Parents are increasingly drawn to blended diets due to a desire for natural food and the feeling of fulfilling their role as caregivers.
The experts address concerns about blended diets, including tube blockages, nutritional adequacy, and food hygiene. Research suggests that in practice, these concerns are not significantly different compared to commercial formulas. Key considerations for blended diets include using appropriate tube sizes, avoiding nasogastric (NG) tubes, ensuring proper consistency, and maintaining food safety standards.
The podcast explores the role of food-derived ingredient formulas as a middle ground between blended diets and commercial formulas. The speakers share their experience of using these formulas and how they can be particularly useful in hospital settings where providing fresh blenderised food is challenging. They also offer a way to control electrolytes and provide fibre, which is beneficial for gut health, both of which is particularly important in intensive care patients.
The experts emphasise the importance of individualised patient care and monitoring when using blended diets or formulas with food-derived ingredients. This includes assessing macronutrient and micronutrient intake, tracking growth parameters, and potentially monitoring nutritional blood levels.Looking to the future, the experts express optimism about the role of blended diets and formulas with food derived ingredients in dietetic care. They highlight the potential for these approaches to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
Listen to the full episode to learn more about the tolerance of tube fed blended diets.
For more information about blended diets watch these webinars on the N+ hub.
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