ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effects of enteral nutritional emulsions on glucose and lipid metabolism in elderly patients with diabetes. Methods This randomized controlled trail recruited 80 elderly diabetic patients whose MNA-SF scores were between 0-11 with dysphagia or inability for oral feeding and who were randomized into a TPF-DM group ,a TPF-D group ,a TPF-T group ,and a TPF group.Glycolipid metabolism indexes and nutritional indexes were measured before intervention and at 1 m ,2 m and 3 m after intervention. Results Compared with baseline levels , FBG and HbA1c declined in the TPF-DM group[(5.70 ± 0.69)mmol/L vs .(7.90 ± 1.71)mmol/L and (6.39 ± 1.11)% vs .(7.92 ± 1.50)%,all P＜0.05]and the TPF-D group[(5.72 ± 1.12)mmol/L vs . (7.63 ± 1.73 )mmol/L and (6.86 ± 0.97 )% vs .(7.81 ± 1.04 )%,all P＜ 0.05 ]after 3 months of treatment ,but no significant difference was found between these two groups. The TPF-DM ,TPF-D , TPF-T groups showed significantly narrower fluctuation ranges of 24 h blood glucose levels after 3 months[(2.20 ± 0.88)mmol/L vs .(4.43 ± 2.07)mmol/L ,(2.94 ± 1.16)mmol/L vs .(4.22 ± 1.60) mmol/L ,(3.21 ± 1.64)mmol/L vs .(4.36 ± 1.88)mmol/L ,all P ＜ 0.05).Serum albumin levels increased in all four groups ,compared with baseline levels (all P＜0.05) ,but there was no significant difference between the groups(all P＞0.05). Furthermore ,the serum HDLC level increased in all four groups than baseline (all P＜ 0.05). Conclusions Enteral nutritional emulsions containing slow release starch and fructose ,dietary fibers and proper ω6 and ω3 ratio can stabilize blood sugar ,regulate blood lipids ,and improve nutritional status.