EFFECTS OF AN ELEMENTAL DIET IN HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS

Eighteen healthy volunteers were assigned at random to eat exclusively either an elemental diet (Mead-Johnson 3200-AS) or a control diet (Mead-Johnson 3200-AU), which differed in that the protein fraction was not hydrolyzed and no medium chain triglycerides were added to the lipid fraction. Neither diet had much effect on serum biochemical and hematological parameters, hepatic secretion of bile salts, pancreatic secretion of enzymes under standard stimuli, and transit time of radio-opaque markers. Mean weight of the subjects decreased from 147 to 145 lb ( P P P P >0.05) in the elemental group. It is concluded that the elemental diet investigated in this study is safe for human use for a period of at least 12 days.