The Impact of Refeeding on Blood Fatty Acids and Amino Acid Profiles in Elderly Patients: A Metabolomic Analysis

Background: Refeeding of elderly frail patients after food deprivation is commonly associated with a high mortality rate. Objective: To evaluate the effect of refeeding on metabolite fluctuation of blood carnitine fatty acids (15 compounds) and free amino acids (14 compounds). Methods: Metabolite fluctuation was followed up in an exploratory, cohort, and noninterventional study in elderly and frail patients (84.5 ± 5 years) after a long period of food deprivation. Patients in the study group were refed by enteral nutrition (EN) and were followed up during 7 days for blood metabolites (n = 27). Patients in the control group (n = 26) had been fed by EN for more than 3 months. Refeeding was initiated with 10 kcal/kg/d and gradual increases of 200 kcal/d for 3 days afterwards. Blood metabolites were assayed in a sample of 25 µL. Results: On food deprivation, the concentrations of all even monocarboxylic carnitine fatty acids were much higher in the study group than in the EN control group (P < .01). Upon refe...