Parenteral Nutrition: Substrate and Secretagogue

Abstract

Maintenance of adequate nutrition in circumstances in which feeding via the gastrointestinal tract is precluded has been the subject of biologic inquiry since Caspar Sotus infused dogs with wine in 1664.¹ In terms of current knowledge, the principles of intravenous nutrition can best be understood in the context of two types of clinical situations. In the nontraumatized, previously well nourished adult in whom oral feeding must be withheld for several days, prime attention is directed at minimizing protein losses and preventing starvation ketosis. This purpose is achieved by providing 100 to 150 g of carbohydrate per day (for consumption by . . .