PD184 - DETERMINATION OF ENERGETIC CONTENT OF ENTERAL NUTRITION BY BOMB CALORIMETRY: PROTOCOL DEVELOPMENT

PD184

DETERMINATION OF ENERGETIC CONTENT OF ENTERAL NUTRITION BY BOMB CALORIMETRY: PROTOCOL DEVELOPMENT

J. Diepvens^1,2,*, M. Aerts^1,2,3,4, N. Asaad^1,2, E. Verheyen^1,2, Z. Rosseel^1,2,4,5, L. Leemans^1,4,6, P.-J. Cortoos^2,4,5, E. De Waele^1,2,4

¹Clinical Nutrition, UZ Brussel, ²Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, ³Gastroenterology, UZ Brussel, ⁴Vitality Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, ⁵Pharmacy, UZ Brussel, ⁶Rehabilitation Research Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium

Rationale: Accurate assessment of energetic content of medical nutrition is valuable for optimizing clinical nutrition therapy. However, standardized methods to determine the energetic content of these products are limited. This study aimed to develop a reliable and practical protocol to measure the gross energy content of enteral nutrition (EN), using bomb calorimetry.

Methods: A protocol for the energetic analysis of EN by bomb calorimetry was developed and optimized through literature review and experimental testing, using a bomb calorimeter (Parr 6200 Isoperibol Calorimeter). Calibration was performed using 1 g benzoic acid pellets as reference substance with a known energetic value. A sample preparation protocol was developed and experimentally evaluated. This included homogenization, drying, grinding, and pelletization, to ensure consistent and complete combustion.

Results: Drying three samples (each 22 grams) of EN (Nutrison Protein Plus®) at 70°C in a food dehydrator (Fritel DH 2025 dehydrator 5 Layer) for 72 h resulted in complete sample dehydration. Fine powder was successfully obtained using a mortar and pestle. The combustion of a 1 g sample of loose powder resulted in incomplete combustion, indicating the need for pelletization. Compact pellets, prepared using a pellet press (Parr 2811 Pellet Press), were expected to enable complete combustion. The measured energy of dried samples was corrected for water content to reflect the original EN samples. These findings formed the basis for developing a protocol for the determination of the energetic content of EN.

Conclusion: A standardized and feasible protocol for bomb calorimetric analysis of EN was developed. This enables full validation and accurate assessment of the energetic content of EN.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared