TLDR One-third of patients on home nutrition had micronutrient deficiencies, with iron deficiency being most common, but serious issues were rare.
The study assessed micronutrient status in 49 patients receiving home parenteral nutrition (HPN), with serum levels measured in 32 of them. Clinical micronutrient deficiencies were found in 33% of patients, including iron deficiency anemia in 14 patients, biotin deficiency in 3 patients, and vitamin A deficiency in 1 patient. Despite no patient having normal levels of all six measured micronutrients (zinc, copper, selenium, manganese, vitamin A, and vitamin E), there was no clinical evidence of toxicity or deficiency at the time of assays. The study concluded that while micronutrient abnormalities were common in HPN patients, serious consequences were rare.
134 citations,
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