Elemental diets during cancer chemotherapy: a commentary.

TL;DRAbstract

Recent advances in infusion delivery systems designed for continuous enteral alimentation have enhanced the use of formula diets in cancer patients undergoing intensive, high risk, chemotherapy. Tube feeding of these diets appears to support the nutritional status of cancer patients during treatment. Some degree of enteroprotection can also be achieved with semihydrolyzed (elemental) formula diets. It is noteworthy, however, that the concentration of chemotherapeutic agents in the bile and serum of rats fed formula diets was found to be significantly increased compared to that of rats fed commercial chow. Some specific fibers or other constituents of normal food may remove through the stool or neutralize the recirculated drugs. In addition, xenobiotic elements in conventional food can stimulate the activity of drug metabolizing enzymes. It may thus be appropriate to monitor the serum level of the drugs when formula diets are given enterally or parenterally to cancer patients during che

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