Skip to main content

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Pediatr.
Sec. Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fped.2025.1448507

Use of a specialized peptide-based enteral formula containing mediumchain triglycerides for enteral tube feeding in children with cerebral palsy and previous tube feeding intolerance on standard enteral formula: A prospective observational TolerUP Study

Provisionally accepted
Aydan Kansu Aydan Kansu 1*Gunsel Kutluk Gunsel Kutluk 2Gonul Caltepe Gonul Caltepe 3Cigdem Arikan Cigdem Arikan 4Nafiye Urganci Nafiye Urganci 5Gokhan Tumgor Gokhan Tumgor 6Aysel Yuce Aysel Yuce 7Ceyda Tuna Kirsaclioglu Ceyda Tuna Kirsaclioglu 1Arzu Meltem Demir Arzu Meltem Demir 8Fatma Demirbas Fatma Demirbas 3Merve Usta Merve Usta 5Sibel Yavuz Sibel Yavuz 6Duygu Demirtas Guner Duygu Demirtas Guner 7Ersin Gumus Ersin Gumus 7Buket Dalgic Buket Dalgic 9Yasar Dogan Yasar Dogan 10Nelgin Gerenli Nelgin Gerenli 11Halil Kocamaz Halil Kocamaz 12Fulya Gulerman Fulya Gulerman 13Elif Sag Elif Sag 14Aysugul Alptekin Sarioglu Aysugul Alptekin Sarioglu 15Neslihan Eksi Bozbulut Neslihan Eksi Bozbulut 9Demet Teker Duztas Demet Teker Duztas 9Hatice Altug Demirol Hatice Altug Demirol 10Coskun Celtik Coskun Celtik 11Olcay Gungor Olcay Gungor 12Kaan Demiroren Kaan Demiroren 16Aysen Uncuoglu Aydogan Aysen Uncuoglu Aydogan 17Ozlem Bekem Ozlem Bekem 18Zeynep Arslan Zeynep Arslan 13Murat Cakir Murat Cakir 14Arzu Ekici Arzu Ekici 16Nihal Uyar Aksu Nihal Uyar Aksu 19Cigdem Ecevit Cigdem Ecevit 18Simge Erdogan Simge Erdogan 15
  • 1 Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
  • 2 Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Training And Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Trabzon, Türkiye
  • 3 Ondokuz Mayis University Faculty of Medicine, Samsun, Türkiye
  • 4 Koc University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Türkiye
  • 5 Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye
  • 6 Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Adana, Türkiye
  • 7 Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
  • 8 Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye
  • 9 Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
  • 10 Firat University Faculty of Medicine, Elazig, Türkiye
  • 11 Istanbul Umraniye Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye
  • 12 Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine, Denizli, Türkiye
  • 13 Kirikkale University Faculty of Medicine, Kirikkale, Türkiye
  • 14 Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Medicine, Trabzon, Türkiye
  • 15 Abbott Laboratories, Istanbul, Türkiye
  • 16 Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital, Bursa, Türkiye
  • 17 Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine,, Izmir, Türkiye
  • 18 Izmir Behcet Uz Pediatric Diseases and Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Türkiye
  • 19 Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine, Izmit, Türkiye

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Objective: Use of peptide-based formulas supplemented with medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) is considered a beneficial strategy to decrease the tube-feeding associated gastrointestinal tolerance. In children with cerebral palsy (CP), overall effects of enteral tube feeding as well as the utility of peptide-based specialized enteral formulas in those with gastrointestinal intolerance have not been extensively studied. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of enteral tube feeding via specialized peptide-based formula containing MCTs in children with CP in terms of gastrointestinal intolerance, anthropometrics, defecation characteristics and parental satisfaction with enteral formula. Methods: Children with CP who received enteral tube feeding via specialized peptide-based formula containing MCTs were included in this prospective observational study. Anthropometrics (z scores for weight for age [WFA], weight for height [WFH], triceps skinfold thickness [TSFT] and mid-upper arm circumference [MUAC]), gastrointestinal intolerance symptoms, defecation frequency and stool patterns and formula satisfaction were recorded at baseline and during 6-month follow up. Results: A total of 96 children with CP (mean±SD age: 5.6±3.2 years, 56.3% were boys) were included. Significant improvements were noted in MUAC, TSFT and WFH z scores at the 6th month visit. The rate of “severe symptoms” and the likelihood of Type-1/Type-2 (constipation) stool pattern were significantly decreased. Majority of parents were satisfied with the study formula. Conclusion: Our findings revealed favorable efficacy and safety of using a specialized peptide-based formula containing MCT in provision of enteral tube feeding among children with CP in terms of improved anthropometrics, amelioration of gastrointestinal intolerance symptoms and normalization of bowel movements along with a high parental satisfaction.

    Keywords: Cerebral Palsy, peptide-based formula, Gastrointestinal intolerance, anthropometrics, Parental satisfaction

    Received: 13 Jun 2024; Accepted: 15 Jan 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 Kansu, Kutluk, Caltepe, Arikan, Urganci, Tumgor, Yuce, Tuna Kirsaclioglu, Demir, Demirbas, Usta, Yavuz, Demirtas Guner, Gumus, Dalgic, Dogan, Gerenli, Kocamaz, Gulerman, Sag, Alptekin Sarioglu, Eksi Bozbulut, Teker Duztas, Altug Demirol, Celtik, Gungor, Demiroren, Uncuoglu Aydogan, Bekem, Arslan, Cakir, Ekici, Uyar Aksu, Ecevit and Erdogan. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Aydan Kansu, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.