Understanding Nutritional Support and Its Applications

Nutritional support involves providing essential nutrients through various methods to individuals who cannot meet their nutritional needs through regular diet.

Nutritional Support FAQ

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What is nutrition support for adults?

Nutrition support for adults: oral nutrition support, enteral tube feeding and p... See more...

What is nutrition support?

In this information we use the term nutrition support to mean any method of feeding that aims to improve or maintain the level of nutrients in your body. Nutrition support includes the use of special nutrient-rich foods, nutritional supplements and fortified foods, as well as liquid feed given to you by a tube into your gut or blood.

What is nutritional support therapy?

Nutritional support is therapy for people who cannot get enough nourishment by eating or drinking. You may need it if you : You receive nutritional support through a needle or catheter placed in your vein or with a feeding tube, which goes into your stomach. What Is Nutrition Support Therapy? (American Society for Parenteral & Enteral Nutrition)

What should healthcare professionals know about nutrition support?

1.4.1 Healthcare professionals who are skilled and trained in nutritional requirements and methods of nutrition support should ensure that the total nutrient intake of people prescribed nutrition support accounts for: activity levels and the underlying clinical condition – for example, catabolism, pyrexia

What is a nutrient support guide?

It offers advice on how oral, enteral tube feeding and parenteral nutrition support should be started, administered and stopped. It aims to support healthcare professionals identify malnourished people and help them to choose the most appropriate form of support. In August 2017, we updated the links in recommendations 1.3.4 and 1.8.15.

When is nutritional support needed in critically ill patients?

Nutritional support is often needed for critically ill patients ( 1 ). Behavioral measures that sometimes enhance oral intake include the following: If behavioral measures are ineffective, nutritional support—oral nutrition, enteral tube nutrition , or parenteral nutrition —is indicated, except sometimes for dying or severely demented patients .

How often should nutrition support be monitored?

Arrange to review the indications, route, risks, benefits, and goals of nutrition support at regular intervals, the frequency of monitoring depending on the person's nutritional status, care setting, the duration of nutrition support, and any underlying disease prognosis. Intervals may increase as the person is stabilised on nutrition support.