Background
Gastrointestinal (GI) intolerance is much more common than food allergy and has distinctly different causes and symptoms.1 GI intolerance happens when the digestive system cannot process some foods, causing an unpleasant physical reaction to them.1 Unlike a food allergy, it does not involve an immune system reaction - in fact, people with GI intolerance can usually tolerate small amounts of these foods without experiencing any uncomfortable symptoms.1
The symptoms of GI intolerance happen quite slowly (often many hours after eating the offending food), last for a long time and include bloating and stomach pain.1 Because the symptoms are very similar to those caused by other conditions (for example, inflammatory bowel disease or irritable bowel syndrome), GI intolerance can be difficult to accurately identify.1
Nutritional Management
Treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) intolerance largely involves avoidance or minimal intake of food that causes the symptoms, for example lactose intolerant patients would have a diet that is low in lactose. A dietitian can ensure that a patient’s nutritional intake remains adequate when certain foods are removed.
Patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction have a reduced ability to digest and absorb nutrients. Peptide-based* feeds have been shown to be more efficacious and better tolerated compared with whole protein formulas.2
Products
For people with gastrointestinal (GI) intolerance, the following feeds may be suitable:
Vital 1.5kcal
Vital 1.5kcal is suitable for people with disease-related malnutrition and malabsorption or for those who experience symptoms of poor feed tolerance. Vital 1.5kcal is a peptide-based* feed that is available both as a 200ml oral nutritional supplement, and as a 1000ml Ready to Hang tube feed, both of which attach directly to Abbott giving sets.
Perative
Perative is a 1.3kcal/ml, peptide-based* tube feed for the dietary management of people with malabsorption or who experience symptoms of poor feed tolerance. Perative is available in 500ml and 1000ml Ready to Hang bottles, which attach directly to Abbott giving sets.
PaediaSure Peptide
PaediaSure Peptide is suitable for the dietary management of children weighing 8-30kg with malabsorption or who experience symptoms of poor feed tolerance. PaediaSure Peptide is a 1.0kcal/ml peptide-based* feed that is available both as a 500ml Ready to Hang tube feed and as a 200ml oral nutritional supplement, which attach directly to Abbott giving sets.
*Peptides are partially broken down proteins, which makes them easier to digest and absorb in the gut than whole proteins.
To find out more about any particular product in our wide range of adult, older children and paediatric feeds, please click here.