Clinical nutrition
Clinical nutrition centers on the prevention, diagnosis, and management of nutritional changes in patients linked to chronic diseases and conditions primarily in
Dietary needs and disease processes
Normally, individuals obtain the necessary nutrients their bodies require through normal daily diets that process the foods accordingly within the body. Nevertheless, there are circumstances such as disease, distress, stress, and so on that may prevent the body from obtaining sufficient nutrients through diets alone. In such conditions, a dietary supplementation specifically formulated for their individual condition may be required to fill the void created by the specific condition. This can come in form of Medical Nutrition.[1]
Methods of nutrition
Among the
Clinical malnutrition
In the field of clinical nutrition, malnutrition has causes, epidemiology and management distinct from those associated with malnutrition that is mainly related to poverty.
The main causes of clinical malnutrition are:
- Cachexia caused by diseases, injuries and/or aging
- Difficulties with ingestion, such as stroke, paresis, dementia, depression, dysphagia
Clinical malnutrition may also be aggravated by
There are various definitions of clinical malnutrition. According to one of them, patients are defined as severely undernourished when meeting at least one of the following criteria:
Medical nutrition therapy
Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) is the use of specific nutrition services to treat an illness, injury, or condition.[3] It was introduced in 1994 by the American Dietetic Association to better articulate the nutrition therapy process. It involves the assessment of the nutritional status of the client and the actual treatment, which includes nutrition therapy, counseling, and the use of specialized nutrition supplements,[3][4] devised and monitored by a medical doctor physician or registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN).[5] Registered dietitians started using MNT as a dietary intervention for preventing or treating other health conditions that are caused by or made worse by unhealthy eating habits.[6]
The role of MNT when administered by a physician or dietitian nutritionist (RDN) is to reduce the risk of developing complications in pre-existing conditions such as type 2 diabetes as well as ameliorate the effects any existing conditions such as high cholesterol.[7] Many medical conditions either develop or are made worse by an improper or unhealthy diet.[8][9][10]
An example is the use of macronutrient preload in type 2 diabetes.[11][12]
Administration
In most cases the use of Medical Nutrition is recommended within international and professional guidelines.[1] It can be an integral part of managing acute and short-term diseases. It can also play a major role in supporting patients for extended periods of time and even for a lifetime in some special cases.[1] Medical Nutrition is not meant to replace the treatment of disease but rather complement the normal use of drug therapies prescribed by physicians and other licensed healthcare providers.[1]
Unlike Medical Foods which are defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration, within their Medical Foods Guidance Documents & Regulatory Information guide in section 5(b) of the Orphan Drug Act (21 U.S.C. 30ee (b) (3)); as "a food which is formulated to be consumed or administered enterally under the supervision of a physician and which is intended for the specific dietary management of a disease or condition for which distinctive nutritional requirements, based on recognized scientific principles, are established by medical evaluation,"[13]
Advantages
The following advantages come with medical nutrition:
- It is often very effective in treating
- It can help one to live better at any age[15]
Disadvantages
The following are some disadvantages of medical nutrition:
- A patient may need to follow a strict diet to see benefits while using a medical nutrition plan.[16]
- Some forms of medical nutrition can be very expensive. A poor patient may not afford such.[15]
Journals
The
See also
- European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism
- Eating disorders
- Medical food
- Nutrition
- Therapeutic food
Notes and references
- ^ a b c d "What is Medical Nutrition?". nutritioncollege.org. Archived from the original on 11 May 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- S2CID 1179325.
- ^ a b "RDNs and Medical Nutrition Therapy Services". eatright.org. 12 June 2014. Archived from the original on 9 February 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ^ a b Morris, Sara F.; et al. "Medical Nutrition Therapy: A Key to Diabetes Management and Prevention". clinical.diabetesjournals.org. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ISBN 9780763742898.
- ^ "Medical Nutrition Therapy: Definition & Uses". study.com. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- OCLC 904413050.
- PMID 9710659.
- PMID 12529187.
- PMID 19702125.
- ^ Li C, Norstedt G, Hu ZG, Yu P, Li DQ, Li J, Yu Q, Sederholm M, Yu DM. Effects of a macronutrient preload on type 2 diabetic patients, Frontiers in Endocrinology 6:139, 2015
- ISSN 0891-8929.
- ^ "Draft Guidance for Industry: Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Foods; Second Edition". fda.gov. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ^ Pastors, Joyce Green; et al. "The Evidence for the Effectiveness of Medical Nutrition Therapy in Diabetes Management". care.diabetesjournals.org. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ^ a b "Strategy & Key Figures - Longer, Healthier Lives". danone.com. Archived from the original on 6 February 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ^ Natalie, Stein (19 August 2015). "What Are the Advantages & Disadvantages of Nutritional Therapy?". livestrong.com. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ^ "Advertising in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition". Retrieved June 18, 2009.