Iron and PN

-
For those living with short bowl syndrome, Crohn’s disease, cancer, dysmotility, or other diseases, home parenteral nutrition is a constant, and life sustaining treatment. Many patients with these conditions report low levels of iron. This deficiency is typically due to blood losses and malabsorption. The iron deficiency usually persists in those receiving home parenteral nutrition mostly due to blood losses. Despite this common deficiency, iron in not usually added to PN solutions. This omission is because of the relation to anaphylaxis and other acute reactions that often occur.
Some studies have shown that iron dextran can be added to PN solutions to safely meet daily needs. One such study looked at 185 patients receiving long-term PN at the Mayo Clinic. 32.4% of participants had iron deficient anemia while on PN. The patients were given iron as an infusion, added iron dextran in their PN, or both methods. Those who received the intravenous infusion of iron showed a significant increase in iron status. This study suggests that those who are at risk for iron deficient anemia while on long term PN should consider an infusion of iron.

Hwa Y L, Rashtak A, Kelly D G, Murray J A. Iron deficiency in long-term parenteral nutrition therapy. Jpen-Parenter Enter. 2015;40(6);869-876. DOI: 10.1177/0148607115587329.

SG

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Are All Sugars Created Equal?

-
Image
Are All Sugars Created Equal?  I think one of the most confusing nutrition topics for people is sugar. With so many conflicting stories out there, it’s difficult to separate the facts from the fiction. Not to mention, the types of sugars are endless. How do we know what’s best for our bodies? White or brown sugar? Cane or raw? Should we just go with Stevia instead? Is it even okay to consume artificial sweeteners? Should we avoid foods with high amounts of natural sugar in them? Each answer only seems to lead to another question!  Let’s start off with distinguishing the purpose of sugar in the first place. Do our bodies even need it? The short answer is yes! Sugars are carbohydrates (what we commonly call “carbs”), one of the three main macronutrients that our bodies need for fuel to function and survive. One of the major ways to categorize sugar is by separating the “natural” sugars from the “added” sugars. Natural sugars are, well, naturally found in foods. They give us the energy th
Read more

Milk Mythbusters

-
Image
Just like with any nutrition topic, the facts about milk can become convoluted pretty quickly. Whether you drink milk for the protein, the nutrients, the flavor, or just like to switch it up, there are pros and cons to every kind. Here are some quick nutritional facts about each type to help you decide which is best for you. Animal-Based Milks  Whole Milk: The original diary drink. It gets a bad rap, but what whole milk has going for it, is that it’s in its proper nutritional form. Whole milk contains all of its original fat-soluble vitamins, A, E, D, & K, along with the fat to help you absorb them all. It also has the proper concentrations and ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids, or your omega-3s and omega-6s, so that they are metabolized as they should be. The downside is that whole milk is calorically dense, meaning that a little goes a long way. You don’t need much to get what you need, so just don’t overdo it!  2% Milk: The fat content of 2% milk is about half of that in who
Read more