Vitamin serum level variations between cycles of intermittent parenteral nutrition in adult patients with short bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: An alternative form of nutrition therapy for patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS) who do not have home parenteral nutrition (PN) available is the administration of the PN cycle during regular hospital admissions and oral vitamin supplement at home. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum levels of folic acid and vitamins A, B(12), C, and E before and after the PN cycle in patients with SBS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This research was conducted with 10 patients with SBS (less than 15 minutes of total barium transit time) who were receiving the PN cycle and oral vitamin supplement at home. Patients were evaluated regarding total food ingestion and oral vitamin supplement intake. Serum levels of vitamins were evaluated immediately after the end of each PN cycle (phase 1) and before the beginning of the next PN cycle (phase 2).

RESULTS: Patients' nutrient ingestion was in accordance with recommendations for healthy individuals. Regarding the oral vitamin supplement intake, 20% of the patients presented low adherence. Although all patients had a normal serum level of folic acid and vitamin B(12), PN vitamin infusion during hospitalization and home oral vitamin supplement were not enough to make the serum levels of vitamins A, C, and E achieve normal values.

CONCLUSION: This study documented that patients did not receive an adequate administration of oral vitamin supplements of vitamins A, C, and E through PN. More studies need to be conducted investigating higher doses of vitamin administration (oral or intravenous administration), assessing differences between water and liposoluble supplements.