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Nutrition & Dietetics vocabulary · Clinical Nutrition

Enteral nutrition

Meaning in nutrition & dietetics, with examples

/ˈentərəl nuˈtrɪʃən/nounCommon term

In nutrition & dietetics, enteral nutrition means: Feeding that uses the digestive tract, usually through a tube into the stomach or small intestine, for patients who cannot eat enough by mouth. Some definitions also include oral nutritional supplements.

In Turkish: enteral beslenme, tüple beslenme

How it is used

Used in hospitals, intensive care and home care. In everyday ward language it is called 'tube feeding'. Common tubes are nasogastric (NG) and PEG tubes. Staff talk about the feeding regimen, the feed rate, 'starting' or 'stopping' feeds and 'feeding intolerance'.

Example sentences

  1. Enteral nutrition was started within 48 hours of admission to intensive care.

  2. When the gut works, enteral nutrition is generally preferred over parenteral nutrition.

Common collocations

  • start enteral nutrition
  • tube feeding
  • nasogastric tube
  • PEG tube
  • enteral feed
  • parenteral nutritionFeeding given directly into a vein, bypassing the digestive system, for patients whose gut cannot be used or cannot absorb enough nutrients.
  • clinical nutritionThe branch of nutrition that deals with preventing, diagnosing and managing nutrition-related problems in patients, especially in hospitals, clinics and long-term care.
  • malnutritionA condition caused by a diet that does not match the body's needs. It usually means undernutrition, but in global health it also covers overweight, obesity and micronutrient deficiencies.
  • medical nutrition therapyNutrition treatment for a specific disease or condition, such as diabetes or kidney disease, planned and monitored by a registered dietitian as part of medical care.

More terms: Clinical Nutrition

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.