Blenderized Enteral Nutrition in Clinical Practice
Summary
Blenderized enteral nutrition (BEN) involves the administration of pureed whole foods through feeding tubes as an alternative or adjunct to commercial formulas. Initially popularised in paediatric care for neurological and metabolic disorders, BEN has gained traction among adult and geriatric populations seeking more natural and palatable feeding options. In clinical practice, BEN is prepared by blending home-cooked or industrially prepared ingredients to achieve prescribed macronutrient and micronutrient targets. Its potential advantages include enhanced gastrointestinal tolerance, improved dietary fibre content, and positive effects on gut microbiota. However, BEN also presents challenges: variability in nutrient composition, higher viscosity and osmolality, risks of microbial contamination, tube occlusion and inconsistent energy delivery. Management requires a multidisciplinary team—dietitians, speech and language therapists, nurses and physicians—to assess patient needs, monitor nutritional status, train caregivers in safe preparation and handling, and mitigate complications. Standardised protocols for recipe formulation, microbial testing and administration techniques are emerging to ensure patient safety and optimise clinical outcomes. BEN’s global significance is reflected in its increasing adoption across income settings, yet its practice remains heterogenous, underscoring the need for consensus guidelines and robust training programmes.
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Blenderized Enteral Nutrition in Clinical Practice publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in blenderized enteral nutrition in clinical practice across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Blenderized enteral nutrition (BEN): A feeding regimen using pureed whole foods delivered via enteral tubes instead of commercial formulas.
Gastrostomy: A surgically created opening in the stomach wall through which a feeding tube is placed.
Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG): A minimally invasive procedure for placing a gastrostomy tube under endoscopic guidance.
Osmolality: A measure of solute concentration in a fluid, influencing water movement and tolerance in the gastrointestinal tract.
Viscosity: The thickness or resistance to flow of a liquid, affecting ease of administration through feeding tubes.
Home enteral nutrition (HEN): Provision of enteral nutrition in the patient’s home environment, often requiring caregiver training and support.
Microbial contamination: The presence of bacteria or other microorganisms in prepared feeds, posing infection risks if handling and storage are inadequate.
References
- Home Enteral Nutrition: Towards a Standard of Care. Nutrients (2018).
- An Evaluation of the Nutritional Value and Physical Properties of Blenderised Enteral Nutrition Formula: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients (2020).
- Monitor gastrointestinal tolerance in children who have switched to an “enteral formula with food‐derived ingredients”: A national, multicenter retrospective chart review (RICIMIX study). Nutrition in Clinical Practice (2021).
- The Microbial Quality and Safety of Blenderised Enteral Nutrition Formula: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2020).
- Blenderized tube feeding for children: an integrative review. Revista Paulista de Pediatria (2022).
- Blenderised Tube Feeds vs. Commercial Formula: Which Is Better for Gastrostomy-Fed Children?. Nutrients (2022).
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