Formulation and Nutritional Appraisal of Renal Specific Formula

Enteral diet formula has shown to be beneficial in hemodialysis patients, where otherwise the gut is efficacious in digestion and absorption of food but oral intake is not possible due to anorexia, and side effects of treatments. Long term enteral feeding programmed with extreme use of commercially available expensive enteral formula all pose a requirement of development of an low cost diet Formula. The objective of this study was to appraisal of formulation and analyze its nutritional composition in comparison to other commercial formula available in market. Material and Method: The renal specific formula was developed by undergoing to different procedures. Samples of two different enteral formula (one renal specific formula and one commercial) were collected from each hospital on three separate occasions and evaluated for nutritional value and cost. Results: The results were compared with the nutritional requirements proposed by the National Kidney Foundation’s Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) and the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) to enteral renal specific formula. This study demonstrates that hospital prepared enteral renal specific formula render unpredictable levels of micronutrients and macronutrients and appear likely to deliver less than the desired amounts of nutrients. The analysis showed diets with a normal distribution of carbohydrates. The total amount of dietary fiber in the renal specific formula was between 12 g and 15 g. In commercial formula dietary fiber was 3.40 g. Concerning minerals, all formulations were appropriate in iron and most of them in calcium, phosphorus, and sodium. No formulation evaluated presented appropriate values of potassium and magnesium. Additionally, the viscosity of renal specific formulas may be unsuitable for infusion through feeding tubes. The cost of the enteral renal specific formulas ranges from 60 – 88 baht/feed Conclusion: Enteral renal specific formula offers an efficacious, nutrient dense alternative, with known specifications, to assist medical professionals optimize nutritional strategies and improve clinical outcomes within the complex etiology in renal disease patient.