ABSTRACT
Nitrogen intake has a central place in the conception of the diet since amino acids are required to support protein synthesis, in particular for wound healing and immunological defenses, and to prevent muscle wasting. Nitrogen is usually supplied in the form of whole proteins, but free amino acids or predigested proteins can be effective alternatives when gut functions are compromised. The patients' clinical condition at the beginning of the study intestinal transit, hemodynamic status had stabilized, and the two treatment groups were comparable in terms of clinical and biological parameters. A balanced diet containing small peptides might be considered useful for the postoperative nutritional support of patients having undergone intestinal resection because of the reduced hydrolytic capacities of the digestive tract. In intensive-care patients having undergone abdominal surgery, enteral support with a small-peptide-based diet is more effective than a diet containing whole proteins of similar amino acid composition in restoring plasma amino acids and nutritional status.
