PD150 - BOMB CALORIMETRY OF ENTERAL NUTRITION: PELLET FORMATION AND METHOD VALIDATION

PD150

BOMB CALORIMETRY OF ENTERAL NUTRITION: PELLET FORMATION AND METHOD VALIDATION

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

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

Rationale: The technical procedure for determination of energetic content of enteral nutrition (EN) by bomb calorimetry was not fully established. Finishing the protocol was part of a quality program and was performed in commonly used EN products. To date, very little data is published, only one single study evaluated energetic content of EN. 

Methods: By optimizing a protocol, bomb calorimetry was enabled and performed. Method validation included repeatability, intermediate precision, linearity, and recovery using benzoic acid spiking. EN sample preparation included controlled drying, grinding, and pellet formation and bomb calorimetry was performed on three replicate pellets per product. Measured gross energy (GE) values were compared to calculated GE based on macronutrient composition of six EN products (Peptamen®, Peptamen® Junior Advance, Fresubin® 2 kcal HP, Isosource® Protein Fibre, Nutrison Soya, and Nutrison Protein Plus Energy Multi Fibre). 

Results: Method validation showed high repeatability and intermediate precision (coefficients of variation <1%). Benzoic acid recovery ranged from 98.5% to 102.9%, confirming accuracy. EN products were ovendried for 72 hours to form pellets. Measured GE closely matched calculated GE for Peptamen®, Peptamen® Junior Advance, Fresubin®, and Nutrison Soya (<5% difference). Isosource® Protein Fibre and Nutrison Protein Plus Energy Multi Fibre required longer drying or further optimization. 

Conclusion: Pellet formation out of EN was feasible with differences within products, yet further optimalization is required to complete dehydration. Bomb calorimetry is an accurate and precise technique to determine energetic content in EN, since measured GE is closely correlated to calculated GE. 

Disclosure of Interest: None declared