Micronutrient Status in Patients Receiving Home Parenteral Nutrition
November 1997
in “
Nutrition
”
Studysummary This study found that while micronutrient abnormalities are common among patients receiving home parenteral nutrition, serious consequences from these abnormalities are rare. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
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.
