Improved GI Tolerance and Weight Gain in Pediatric Patients using Plant‑Based Enteral Formulas1

Authors: Stanley Cohen, MD; Ana Ramirez, MD; Vanessa Millovich, DCN, RDN, LDN

Abstract accepted by the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) and published in the March 2020 digital supplement of the Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (JPEN).

In this study, researchers at a pediatric GI clinic reviewed the charts of patients who had switched from their previous formula to Kate Farms within the previous 2 years. Tolerance questionnaires were completed by the parents of the study participants.

Patients who switched to Kate Farms had improved weight gain and tolerance outcomes.

86% of patients had improved weight-for-age z-scores2.

90% of parents reported better tolerance on Kate Farms compared to their child’s previous formula3.

This is the first study to demonstrate efficacy and tolerance of plant-based enteral formulas in a pediatric population.

Read the full abstract below.

References:

1. Cohen, SA., et al. Improved GI tolerance and weight gain in pediatric patients using plant-based enteral formulas. J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2020; 44(3):274.

2. For those patients <21 years old with a documented weight-for-age z-score (n=7), six showed improvement.

3. Tolerance questionnaires were completed for 10 patients: 90% of caregivers agreed that their child tolerated the plant-based formula better than their previous regimen.