Impact of oligomeric enteral nutrition with low-molecular-weight whey peptides on diarrhea in critical care nutrition

Diarrhea is one of the most common complications associated with enteral nutrition in hospitalized patients. Oligomeric enteral nutrition has been considered to reduce the incidence of diarrhea. We herein introduced and examined the effects of a specific oligomeric enteral nutrition with the low-molecular-weight whey peptides, Peptino‍(®) in critically ill patients with refractory diarrhea or at high risk of mesenteric ischemia. A retrospective study of a consecutive case series was conducted. Patients were divided into two groups: enteral nutrition products were switched to Peptino‍(®) (switching group) and Peptino‍(®) was the initial enteral nutrition product (first initiation group). Sixty-eight patients were administered Peptino‍(®) in the ICU. Diarrhea occurred in 28.3% of patients in the switching group and 13.3% in the first initiation group. EN failure with gastrointestinal intolerance was observed in 6 patients (8.8%). Diarrhea resolved in 29 out of the 35 patients (82.9%) with diarrhea prior to the switch to Peptino‍(®). Diarrhea cessation within 24 h of the initiation of Peptino‍(®) was achieved in 11 patients (31.4%) and within 24–48 h in 12 (34.3%). Mesenteric ischemia was not detected in any patients. In conclusion, Peptino‍(®) may be effective against diarrhea and gastrointestinal intolerance in critical care nutrition.