High Protein Enteral Feed Peptide Hydrolysate Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current enteral tube feeds for ICU patients lack stability and are not well-tolerated, often requiring trophic feeding and parenteral nutrition due to high viscosity and digestibility issues, which complicates patient care and reduces compliance.
Innovation Solution
A nutritionally complete enteral tube feed with a high protein density, using a defined protein hydrolysate and low GI carbohydrates, along with a lipid component high in MCT, that is stable against repeated heat sterilization and well-tolerated by ICU patients, allowing for early initiation of enteral feeding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high protein density is provided in enteral tube feeds, then target protein intake is achieved faster, but emulsion stability decreases and viscosity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the protein component by using partially hydrolyzed proteins with specific molecular weight distributions (combination of larger peptides and smaller peptides/oligopeptides). This parameter modification allows the formulation to maintain high protein density (at least 30 EN% from protein) while achieving acceptable emulsion stability and viscosity characteristics that enable early enteral feeding initiation in ICU patients
2Productivity
If high protein density is provided in enteral tube feeds, then target protein intake is achieved faster, but viscosity increases making administration difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the viscosity parameters through controlled protein hydrolysis, creating a bimodal peptide distribution that optimizes flow properties. The combination of larger peptides (maintaining structure) and smaller peptides/oligopeptides (reducing intermolecular interactions) achieves high protein content while maintaining viscosity levels suitable for tube feeding administration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite approach by combining different protein hydrolysis products (larger peptides and smaller peptides/oligopeptides) in specific ratios within the same formulation. This composite protein structure achieves the dual benefit of high protein density and acceptable viscosity for easy administration
3Adaptability or versatility
If enteral tube feeds are made nutritionally complete with minerals, then nutritional quality improves, but emulsion stability and viscosity problems worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the emulsion parameters to be compatible with mineral addition by optimizing the protein hydrolysis degree and peptide size distribution. This creates an emulsion system with sufficient stability margin to accommodate the presence of minerals required for nutritional completeness without compromising formulation stability
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional enteral tube feeds are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but patient tolerability decreases due to digestibility issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-hydrolyzing proteins into specific peptide fractions before formulation. This preliminary breakdown of proteins into di-, tri-, and oligopeptides with molecular weights predominantly between 0.5-1 kD prepares the nutritional components for optimal消化吸收, significantly improving patient tolerability and reducing gastrointestinal side effects while maintaining straightforward manufacturing processes
Data Source
AI summary
Enteral tube feed for patients in an intensive care unit comprising a lipid component, a carbohydrate component and at least 30 EN % of a protein component based on the total energy content of the enteral tube feed, wherein the protein component comprises a peptide fraction consisting of di-, tri- and oligopeptides with a molecular weight of at most 1 kD, wherein the peptide fraction provides at least 10 EN % of the total energy content of the enteral composition and wherein the carbohydrate component predominantly consists of carbohydrates having a GI of ≤35 such as isomaltulose for use in treatment of ICU patients.