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Learn more about short bowel syndrome and malabsorption diagnosis. Does your child have SBS? Speak to your doctor and see if Neocate is the right fit for you.
After removal of part of the small intestine or colon, the remaining portion needs time to adapt to absorb sufficient nutrients. During this adaptation period, the intestinal tract must grow more cells in order to increase its ability to absorb sufficient nutrients from formula and food.
It is in this adaptation period that infants and children have symptoms of short bowel syndrome (SBS) as the intestinal tract fails to properly absorb nutrients and fluids, also known as malabsorption. Patients with SBS may be at increased risk of developing food allergies.
It is important for the clinician to conduct regular nutritional monitoring to ensure the child’s diet is adequate. Monitoring can include a review of nutritional intake and requirements, growth measurements, assessment of symptoms and micronutrient status. Micronutrient supplementation needs will vary based on the child’s anatomy, degree of malabsorption and route of nutrition. A stool sample might be used to see if there is any fat in the stool which will indicate fat malabsorption.
Once an assessment of the case is made, the healthcare professional will help the patient with options to maintain a nutritionally complete diet through Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN), Parenteral Nutrition (PN), enteral or oral nutrition. The diet may consist of TPN initially and then advance to enteral (oral or tube) nutrition. A goal is to wean from PN as soon as medically possible. In many cases, a special formula like Neocate® is indicated.
Eventually, some children will be able to consume an oral diet.
Neocate has been formulated to help children with SBS. Years of experience and studies have contributed to finding the right balance of nutrients, amino acids, and fat, to provide a formula suited to babies and children with SBS and malabsorption.
Neocate is an amino acid-based formula. It contains 100% free amino acids, the building blocks of protein, making it easier for the body to process and digest.
Fat absorption is often a problem in patients with SBS, therefore Neocate has created a fat blend of MCT & LCT, to help support their digestion and absorption by the gut. Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT) are more easily absorbed by the intestine, whereas the presence of LCT, or Long Chain Triglycerides, is important to help the gut adapt.
Infants and children with SBS are often unable to properly absorb nutrients, and water from formula or breastmilk. To ensure that they get all their nutritional requirements, the most common solution is total parenteral nutrition (TPN), where they get their nutrients directly through the bloodstream. This will give the gut time to adapt and grow longer to properly absorb and digest nutrients through formula and food. However, TPN has its share of complications and risks, so it is best to keep time on TPN at a minimum if possible.
The child’s gut needs to adapt and grow longer before taking them off TPN. As soon as possible, they switch to enteral tube feeding (or oral) nutrition, in which nutrients are delivered to the gut instead of the bloodstream.
In some cases, patients go through a transition phase of enteral nutrition while continuing to receive TPN to help the intestine adapt, without losing any vital nutrition. Gradually, the patient is weaned off TPN to receive their complete nutrition through formula and food.
By beginning enteral nutrition with Neocate, studies have shown that it helps babies and children wean off TPN sooner. This is crucial because the longer a patient stays on TPN, the risk of serious complications becomes greater. After weaning off TPN, Neocate formulas will help provide the essential nutrients babies need for normal growth and development while their gut continues to adapt.
Neocate® is a family of hypoallergenic, amino acid-based specialized formulas for use under medical supervision and is indicated for cow milk allergy, multiple food allergies and related GI and allergic conditions. Talk to your healthcare provider about product recommendations.
Neocate Nutra is suitable for use in children and infants older than 6 months of age (not suitable as sole source of nutrition). Neocate Nutra is not intended for bottle or tube feeding.
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