Protein Quality of Enteral Nutrition products is Consistent with Label claims During Shelf life and Beyond Expiration Date

• Published in: Journal of the American Dietetic Association 1995, Vol.95 (1), p.46-52
• Main Authors: HENNINGFIELD, MARY F., SMITH, STEPHEN D., REYNOLDS, PATRICIA A., GARCIA, SAUL E., BAXTER, JEFFREY H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: alimentacion humana; alimentation humaine; Amino Acids - analysis; Analysis; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Animals; aptitud para la conservacion; aptitude a la conservation; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Assay; calidad proteica; Diet; Dietary Proteins - analysis; Dietary Proteins - standards; Emergency and intensive care: metabolism and nutrition disorders. Enteral and parenteral nutrition; Enteral feeding; Enteral Nutrition; etiquetado de alimentos; etiquetage informatif; Food Labeling - standards; Food Preservation; Food, Formulated - analysis; Food, Formulated - standards; Health aspects; human feeding; human nutrition; Humans; Intensive care medicine; keeping quality; Male; Medical sciences; nutricion humana; Nutrition; nutrition humaine; nutrition labelling; Nutritional aspects; nutritive value; Product quality; protein quality; Proteins; Proteins in human nutrition; qualite proteique; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Time Factors; Tube feeding; valeur nutritive; valor nutritivo
• ISSN: 0002-8223; 2212-2672; 1878-3570; 2212-2680
• DOI: 10.1016/S0002-8223(95)00012-7

Objective Enteral formulas were monitored during their shelf life and beyond expiration date to examine protein quality. Design Protein quality was determined by protein efficiency ratio (PER) bioassays and amino acid analyses. Setting A certified laboratory performed the PER tests according to procedures established by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists and recognized by the US Food and Drug Administration (PDA). The amino acid analyses were performed in our laboratory using validated methods. Samples Commercially available formulas (Ensure, Osmolite HN, TwoCal HN) that contained protein blends of caseinates or caseinates with soybean protein isolate were studied. Main outcome measures Achievement of protein-quality values greater than or equal to 70% of the fresh reference casein value as determined by the PER method would be consistent with adequate protein quality as described by the FDA. Levels of indispensable amino acids that meet or exceed the standards established by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences are considered high-quality proteins. Levels of amino acids throughout shelf life were compared with published label claims. Results Amino acid analyses, which included measurement of tryptophan and total sulfur amino acids, revealed that both fresh and outdated products met or exceeded standards for proteins of high biologic value and were consistent with label claims. The PER values ranged from 90% to 96% of the control diet for fresh product and 82% to 87% for products evaluated after expiration. Conclusion The enteral products studied provide high-quality protein throughout the shelf life of the product. J Am Diet Assoc. 1995; 95:46-52.