Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Inc.

New England Deaconess Hospital Corporation

Metabolics Solutions, Inc.

R Amour Forse

Bruce R Bistrian

Stacey J Bell

John D Palombo

Peter Burke

Peter A Burke

Martin A Baker

David A Wagner

An improved enteral formulation that is low in fat and contains protein hydrolysates has been developed. The osmolality of the formulation is controlled to be below 500 mOs/kg H.sub.2 O, preferably about 300 mOs/kg H.sub.2 O. In a preferred embodiment, the formulation contains corn starch to control blood glucose levels. This formulation is particularly useful for treatment of critically ill patients and in minimizing a risk of pulmonary aspiration and/or gastrointestinal dysfunction in such patients.

Enteral formulation: low in fat and containing protein hydrolysates

A test for determining hepatic function has been developed. This test uses oral administration of isotope labeled phenylalanine or tyrosine, particularly .sup.13 C-phenylalanine, in a rapid breath test. In the preferred mode, the breath sample is analyzed using a mass spectrometer and compared with a standard. The breath test provides a dynamic rather than static determination of hepatic function and can be used for both early and late stage liver problems.

Liver function breath test using aromatic amino acids

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Brookline, MA, United States of America

R Amour Forse