Metabolic effects of enteral formula feeding in alcoholic hepatitis.

The etiology of malnutrition and the metabolic effect of aggressive nutritional support by enteral feeding were evaluated in patients with moderately severe alcoholic hepatitis. Among 21 patients presenting with jaundice, ascites, coagulopathy and low grade encephalopathy, the mean digestibilities (intake - fecal excretion/intake x 100) of total energy and fat were subnormal at 74.6 +/- 2.