Blenderized Tube Feeding: Health Outcomes and Review of Homemade and Commercially Prepared Products

Nutr Clin Pract. 2020 Jun;35(3):417-431. doi: 10.1002/ncp.10493. Epub 2020 May 2.

Abstract

The popularity of homemade blenderized tube feeding (HBTF) continues to increase among enteral nutrition (EN) consumers and healthcare providers alike, citing improved feeding tolerance over standard commercial enteral formulas, among other health outcomes. Within the past 5-10 years, there has been a surge in the development of commercial blenderized tube feeding (CBTF) products. CBTF products promote similar benefits from whole foods like those used in HBTF while being a nutritionally-consistent, easy to use, and shelf-stable option for EN consumers. Research is improving but is still limited for HBTF and virtually nonexistent for CBTF products. This review aims to summarize current health outcomes of HBTF, compare HBTF with CBTF, evaluate CBTF products, and provide considerations for future research and practices.

Keywords: blenderized tube feeding formula; case report; commercial tube feeding formula; enteral nutrition; home nutrition support; pediatrics.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Attitude of Health Personnel
  • Costs and Cost Analysis
  • Enteral Nutrition* / economics
  • Enteral Nutrition* / history
  • Enteral Nutrition* / methods
  • Enteral Nutrition* / trends
  • Food Handling* / methods
  • Food Storage
  • Food, Formulated*
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome / physiology
  • History, 20th Century
  • History, 21st Century
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Nutritive Value
  • Treatment Outcome*
  • Zellweger Syndrome / therapy