Is there a difference in metabolic outcome between different enteral formulas?

Background: Despite appropriate enteral nutrition, many elderly patients do not reach a good metabolic outcome. Two nutrition formulas are commonly used in Israel with no evidence-based medicine to indicate preference of one over the other.

Methods: We describe a 2-month observational study of patients fed by 1 of the 2 formulas.

Are we giving too much iron? Low-dose iron therapy is effective in octogenarians.

Purpose: Elderly patients are vulnerable to the dose-dependent adverse effects of iron replacement therapy. Our study examines whether low-dose iron therapy can efficiently resolve iron-deficiency anemia in patients over the age of 80 years and reduce adverse effects.

Subjects And Methods: Ninety hospitalized patients with iron-deficiency anemia were randomized to receive elemental iron in daily doses of 15 mg or 50 mg as liquid ferrous gluconate or 150 mg of ferrous calcium citrate tablets for 60 days.