Background
Cystic fibrosis is an inherited condition and it is estimated that around about 1 in every 25 people in the UK are carriers of cystic fibrosis.1 It affects the internal organs, particularly the lungs and pancreatic duct, which become clogged with mucus. People with cystic fibrosis are prone to chest infections, and other consequences may include poor growth, diabetes and osteoporosis. Symptoms usually become apparent in infancy (but may not be detected until later). They typically include a troublesome cough, recurrent chest infections, diarrhoea or abnormal stools, or poor weight gain.1
With help from doctors, specialist nurses and dietitians, symptoms can be managed through diet and physiotherapy. To fight off infections it’s important to have a healthy body weight, so obtaining the right nutrition is vital. The diet of patients with cystic fibrosis should be high in calories, as people with the condition have increased nutritional requirements. Patients may also have difficulties digesting their food, particularly fat, and may have to take pancreatic enzymes to help with this.
Treatment
There is no cure for cystic fibrosis, but thanks to improved detection and treatment, life expectancy has improved a great deal in recent years.1 The aim of treatment is to ease symptoms and make the condition easier to live with. Eating well is important for people with cystic fibrosis because the mucus can make it difficult to digest food and absorb nutrients. They may be recommended a high-calorie diet, vitamin and mineral supplements, and taking digestive enzyme capsules with food to help with digestion.1Individuals who have diabetes as a result of the condition need to take insulin and manage their diet in order to keep blood sugar levels stable.
People with cystic fibrosis require a diet that’s high in calories. If individuals are unable to obtain sufficient nutrition via their normal diet, oral nutritional supplements can help, providing the right level of nutrients they need. Alternatively, if the person cannot take in all of the calories and nutrients they need by mouth, a feeding tube can be used to deliver nutrients directly into the stomach or small bowel.
Products
For people with cystic fibrosis, the following may be suitable:
Ensure Plus juce
Ensure Plus juce is a 1.5 kcal/ml, ready-to-drink, fat free, juice style oral nutritional supplement for people with, or at risk of developing, disease-related malnutrition. Ensure Plus juce is best served chilled and is available in six flavours: apple, fruit punch, lemon and lime, orange, peach and strawberry. It's presented in a 220 ml bottle.
PaediaSure Plus juce
Paediasure Plus juce is a 1.5 kcal/ml, ready-to-drink, fat free, juice style oral nutritional supplement that is suitable for the dietary management of children weighing 8-30 kg with, or at risk of developing, disease-related malnutrition. PaediaSure Plus juce is available in two flavours: apple and very berry. It’s presented in a 200 ml bottle. PaediaSure Plus juce is best served chilled and can be frozen into cubes and lollipops.
Vital 1.5kcal
Vital 1.5 kcal is suitable for people with disease-related malnutrition and malabsorption or for those who experience symptoms of poor feed tolerance. Vital 1.5 kcal is a peptide-based* feed that is available both as a 200 ml oral nutritional supplement, and as a 1000 ml Ready to Hang tube feed, both of which attach directly to Abbott giving sets.
PaediaSure Peptide
PaediaSure Peptide is suitable for the dietary management of children weighing 8-30 kg with malabsorption or children who experience symptoms of poor feed tolerance. PaediaSure Peptide is a 1.0 kcal/ml peptide-based* feed that is available both as a 500 ml Ready to Hang tube feed and as a 200 ml oral nutritional supplement.
*Peptides are partially broken down proteins, which makes them easier to digest and absorb in the gut than whole proteins.
TwoCal
TwoCal is a 2.0 kcal/ml tube feed for people who are catabolic or fluid restricted who have, or are at risk of developing, disease-related malnutrition. TwoCal contains FOS (fructo-oligosaccharides), which have an important role in the diet by helping to support gastrointestinal function.2 It is available in a 1000 ml Ready to Hang bottle and 200 ml bottle, both of which attach directly to Abbott giving sets. The 200 ml presentation is convenient for bolus feeding.
Ensure TwoCal
Ensure TwoCal is a 2.0 kcal/ml, high-protein, milkshake style oral nutritional supplement for people with, or at risk of developing, disease-related malnutrition. Ensure TwoCal is ready-to-drink, and is available in banana, neutral, strawberry and vanilla flavours. Ensure TwoCal contains FOS (fructo-oligosaccharides), which have an important role to play in the diet by helping to support gastrointestinal function.2 It is presented in a 200 ml bottle.
To find out more about any particular product in our wide range of adult, older children and paediatric feeds, please click here