ABSTRACT
Defined formula diets in liquid form (enteral formula diets) are being used with increasing frequency to meet the total or partial nutritional needs of adult patients in hospital, nursing home, or clinical situations. In a series of studies, S. A. Adibi and others demonstrated that dipeptide disappearance in the gut lumen is principally accomplished by intact absorption and not by hydrolysis and that there is a greater absorption of amino acids from peptides than from free forms in the human intestines. Because of the rapid and unusual pattern of amino acid absorption, the body was unable to make most efficient use of these amino acids for protein rather than for energy purposes. Amino acid mixes formulated to duplicate food proteins or protein isolates do not produce as favorable nitrogen balances as do the intact proteins or protein isolates themselves in individuals with fully functional gastrointestinal tracts.
