A randomized trial on the efficacy of a 2-month tube feeding regimen in anorexia nervosa: A 1-year follow-up study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND & AIMS:

Despite the high mortality rate in malnourished anorexia nervosa (AN) patients, very few trials have prospectively studied the efficacy of tube feeding.

METHODS:

This open prospective study was conducted in malnourished AN patients, who were randomized in tube feeding (n=41) or control (n=40) groups during a 2-month period. Thereafter, body weight, body mass gain, energy intake, eating behavior and relapse rates were compared during a 1-year follow-up, using paired Student t-test and ANOVA.

RESULTS:

At the end of the 2-months period, weight gain was 39% higher in the tube feeding group than in the control group (194+/-14 vs 126+/-19g/day; P<0.01). The fat-free mass gain was greater in the tube-feeding group: 109+/-14 vs 61+/-17g/day (P<0.01). Energy intake was higher in the tube feeding group than in the control group (P<0.05), as well as the decrease in bingeing episodes (P<0.01). Most patients thought that CEN improved their eating disorder. After discharge, the relapse-free period was longer in the CEN group than in the control one: 34.3+/-8.2 weeks vs 26.8+/-7.5 weeks (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION:

CEN is helpful in malnourished AN patients for weight restoration, without hindrance on the eating behavior therapy nor inducing a more rapid relapse.

• Authors: Daniel Rigaud, Laurent Brondel, Anne Thérèse Poupard, Isabelle Talonneau, Jean Marcel Brun
• Journal: Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) (Clin Nutr) Vol. 26 Issue 4 Pg. 421-9 (Aug 2007) ISSN: 0261-5614 [Print] England
• PMID: 17499892 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Topics

• Adult
• Analysis of Variance
• Anorexia Nervosa (prevention & control, therapy)
• Body Weight (drug effects, physiology)
• Bulimia Nervosa (prevention & control, therapy)
• Enteral Nutrition
• Feeding Behavior
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Hospitalization
• Humans
• Nutritional Requirements
• Recurrence
• Time Factors
• Treatment Outcome
• Weight Gain (drug effects, physiology)