The effect of additional protein support inhospitalized unconscious elderly malnourished patients receiving enteral nutrition

Malnutrition in unconscious patients has a risk of increased morbidity, mortality and extended hospital stays. The objective of this study is examine the influence of additional protein support in hospitalized unconscious elderly malnourished patients receiving enteral nutrition.A total of 20 patients were recruited. All patients were feed by a standart enteral nutrition formula during the 3 days adaptation period. The study group(n=10), received additional protein support (2g/kg/day protein) and the control group(n=10) received only standart enteral nutrition (1g/kg/day protein) during the 12 days study period. Nutrition status was assessed 3 times with anthropometric measurements, biochemical and ürine parameters. These results were compared between these two groups of patients and changes in these parameters during the adaptation and sudy period were evaluated.The subjects? mean age was 77.45±9.45(60-93) year in all 20 patients; the mean age was 76.70±8.78 year in the study group, 78.20±10.49 year in the control group (p>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the study and control groups with regard to the anthropometric measurements and serum proteins average values (p>0.05). The changes in serum protein levels during the adaptation and study period were no significant at the study group (p>0.05). Although there was no statistical difference , when the changes in the average values of anthropometric measurements, serum IGF-1, RBP and prealbumin values were examined graphically the average values were increased in the study group at the end of the study compared to day 0(p<0.05).In this study, patient?s prognosis and existence of malnutrition were effective on patient?s health status and additional protein support in nutritional support indicated some helpful effects on nutritional parameters.