Manufacturing Process, In Vivo and In Vitro Digestibility Assessment of an Enteral Feeding Product Hydrolyzed from Locally Available Ingredients Using Commercial Enzymes

A ready-for-use enteral feeding product was manufactured based on energy standard mixing using hydrolyzed products from local foods (i.e., loin pork, carrot, pumpkin, soybean, rice, and potato). When compared to enteral foods based on defined ingredients, the manufactured product is more cost-effective, appropriately functional and has similar physicochemical properties. Relative protein digestibility for in vitro value was tested by using enzyme pepsin, pH-drop and pH-stat method with three different enzymes. The product was shown to be easily digested with an in vivo digestibility value of 89.7%. Molecule sizes of components in the product ranged from 3.5 to 8.5 kDa, determined by SDS-PAGE, and the average molecular weight was 1.52 kDa, determined by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) method. In terms of nutritional value, the product achieved a caloric density of 1 kcal/mL, dietary fibers of 1.48 g per 100 mL and provided both oligomeric and monomeric forms of protein. In addition, the product has the leucine: isoleucine: valine ratio of 2:1:1, thus facilitating the absorption of the protein. In conclusion, the manufactured enteral feeding product has been shown to be appropriate for providing nutritional support for patients.