Nutritional & Metabolic Support in BMT
BMT patients invariably develop Oroesophageal Mucositis and Gastrointestinal Toxicity (1-3). These 2 conditions may result in
- Decreased Oral Intake
- Decreased Nutrient Absorption
- Loss of Nutrients from the Gut, especially Amino Acids
- Secondary to altered trans membrane Transport of Nutrients
- Negative nitrogen balance is common in BMT patients as a consequence of both intestinal losses with diarrhea and catabolic effects on skeletal muscle initially exerted by the underlying disease
- Recovering BMT patients need 50-60% more calories and twice as much protein in their diets than healthy individuals of similar age and gender
- BMT and related complications can cause severe GI side effects that can lead to poor nutrition
- Conditioning regimens have tremendous and deleterious consequences on the anatomical and function-al integrity of the gastrointestinal tract
