Toward a Better Understanding of Hospital Feeding Formulas

Abstract

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5915/19-1-12882

Recent advances in the science and technology of human nutrition and human health have made possible the development of a variety of hospital feeding formulas tailored to meet the growing demands for total or supplemental nutrition for prevention, management or treatment of a disease. The use of a great variety of ingredients of plant, animal or chemical origin for their functional or nutritional qualities to fabricate an antidiarrheic, economically feasible, hypoallergenic, isotonic, long shelf-life, palatable, stable hospital feeding formula with electrolyte balance, low renal solute load and osmolality make the task all the more challenging and rewarding. Major nutritional rationale and functional considerations in the fabrication of a versatile hospital feeding formula designed to meet over 90 percent of the needs of any health care facility, fit for total or supplemental feeding - gavage or oral - are outlined. Need for commercial production of such a formula in the developing countries, particularly the Muslim countries, is emphasized.