Catabolic States and Medical Nutrition Therapy

Trauma and injury to the body, including wounds, burns, fractures, and sepsis cause the body’s metabolic rate to rise (hypermetabolism), increasing nutritional needs, especially for calories, protein, and micronutrients beyond their normal requirements. Additionally, tissue breakdown (catabolism) predominates over tissue synthesis (anabolism), with as much as 20% of body protein (muscle) being lost in the two weeks following a major illness.³

If this is allowed to continue, the body takes longer to recover since many aspects of recovery such as wound healing, tissue repair and blood replacement are dependent on active protein synthesis. Add to this insufficient nutritional intake caused by the inability or lack of desire to eat and weight loss/wasting is exacerbated, this time from the body’s fat stores. It is essential, therefore, to intervene as early as possible in this process with adequate nutritional support, orally, eternally and parenterally, including sufficient calories, sufficient high quality protein, such as Proteem™ Whey Protein and sufficient micronutrients.

One systematic and meta-analysis of the literature demonstrated that the use of high protein supplements significantly reduced the risk of developing pressure ulcers and suggested improvement in the healing of existing ones⁴.

In other studies supplementation with the amino acid arginine, Vitamin C and zinc resulted in clinically significant improvement in pressure ulcer healing⁵.

WHY PROTEEM™ WHEY PROTEIN FOR CATABOLIC STATES?

Proteem™ Whey Protein Provides:

• High quality complete protein, all 9 essential amino acids
• Additional glutamine can be added for improved immune function (AVAILABLE SOON – Products with arginine for enhanced wound healing)
• Micronutrients, including vitamins and minerals, and fiber can be added as needed
• Versatility: can be taken orally or administered via tube feeding for additional needed calories/protein. Not intended to be sole source of nutrition for tube fed patients.

Improved Patient Outcomes using Proteem™ Whey Protein in Catabolic States:

• Weight stabilization, with gradual weight regain, mostly in the form of muscle tissue
• Muscle repletion with greater muscle strength and reduced fatigue
• Improved healing of wounds
• Increased serum pre-albumin, the marker of choice for evaluation of nutritional status, indicative of protein synthesis⁶
• Greater compliance with taking product as prescribed, secondary to taste preference, ease of preparation and versatility of product

[ 3 ] Zeman, Clinical Nutrition And Dietetics, P.473-481
[ 4 ] Ageing Research Review 2005 Aug; 4(3): 422-450
[ 5 ] Clinical Nutrition 2005 Dec; 24(6): 479-987
[ 6 ] American Family Physician 2002 April 15; Vol 65, No. 8: 1575-1578