Method and composition for enhanced parenteral nutrition

Abstract

A composition and method for improved parenteral administration of nutrients is provided, comprising administration of an insulinotropic peptide, or its derivatives, analogs, and fragments. GLP-1 is a preferred insulinotropic hormone. Patients who are especially suited for treatment include patients with activated counterregulatory hormones, such as would occur after trauma, accidents, and surgery.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001] Patients suffering from a variety of illnesses often need to take nutrition by a route other than through the alimentary canal. Patients requiring surgery, patients in comas, patients with digestive tract illness, patients in shock, and patients undergoing healing processes often receive parenteral administration of carbohydrates along with various combinations of lipids, electrolytes, minerals, vitamins and amino acids. Typically this administration is accomplished by intravenous injection or infusion although subcutaneous, intramuscular, peritoneal or other routes may also be used.[0002] When health care professionals administer parenteral nutrients to patients, they take care to avoid blood sugar overload (hyperglycemia). In many cases, even those involving patients with healthy metabolisms, parenteral nutrition can be accomplished and blood sugar levels appropriately maintained through co-administration of insulin. This administration sometimes,...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

This administration sometimes, however, has serious drawbacks, since insulin has a short half-life and can cause significant variation in the blood sugar levels.

This titration procedure is both time consuming and requires a significant expense since the insulin infusion preferably is continuous and has to be controlled by serial blood sugar measurement.

When a non-oral route for nutrition must be used, the risk of hyperglycemia and the attendant deleterious effects upon osmolarity, kidney tissue, retinal tissue, blood vessels, and the cardiovascular system are great even if insulin co-administration is practiced.

If patients cannot receive adequate nutrition, as many times occurs with traditional parenteral nutrition, healing takes longer and ancillary problems associated with the patient's primary malcondition often occur.