Medical Food Study

Can Fat Absorption be Enhanced with a Novel Medical Food?

Background

A medical food (MF) (Seracal™) consisting of pre-digested fat with essential fatty acids, monoglycerides, and choline-containing phospholipids, has been developed to enhance fat/nutrient absorption across a variety of malabsorption conditions.

The proprietary active ingredient, Lym-X-Sorb®, has been clinically shown to enhance weight gain in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF).

The MF comes in a taste-neutral powdered form, can be mixed with soft foods, and should be consumed throughout the day or used as part of a tube feeding regimen.

The MF has now been applied to patients with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in non-CF, malabsorption diagnoses.

These pediatric and adult patient case studies demonstrate increases in body weight and improvements in GI symptoms with the MF.

Credits:

Carol Ireton-Jones, PhD, RDN, LD, CNSC, FASPEN, FAND 1
Cassie Brown, MS, RD, LD CNSC 2

Megan Fisklements, PhD 3
Tracy Ruvolo, MS, MBA, RD 3

1 - Good Nutrition for Good Living Carrollton TX

2 - Children’s Medical Center Dallas TX
3 - Vytala Inc Philadelphia PA

Science of Lym-X-Sorb®

A precise blend of 3 lipid ingredients that self-assemble into in a unique crystalized form, enhancing absorption.

Long-Chain Fatty Acids, including omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and omega-9 oleic acid

Monoglyceride high in omega-6 linoleic essential fatty acid

Choline-containing lecithin that the body recognizes as a bile component and recirculates for increased absorption

Suggested serving size: ¼ cup = 4 T

Pediatric (1 -11 yrs) - up to ½ cup per day

Adult – up to ¾ cup per day

View nutrition

Medical Food Efficacy Data

Lym-X-Sorb Significantly Improves Fat Absorption

Pediatric Case Study

8-year-old with a history of VACTERL, short gut syndrome due to necrotizing enterocolitis.

Previous parenteral nutrition dependence and G-tube dependence, currently receiving home blended enteral formula and an oral diet, MF added to regimen.

After adding the MF, an immediate improvement in bowel movement frequency and consistency and improvement in appetite and tolerance to home blended formula through G-tube was seen.

During initial 4 weeks of MF consumption, patient gained weight appropriate for catch-up growth and improvement from 2.3rd%ile weight for age to 3.3rd%ile weight for age growth curve (CDC 2-20 growth curve).

3 months after the first follow-up on the MF, weight gain for catch-up needs continued and weight %ile increased to the 6.45%ile - at this time he increased from 1 serving to 2 servings per day.

Adult Case Study

74 –year-old adult male, 5 years s/p pancreatic cancer and s/p Whipple procedure.

Oral diet with pancreatic enzymes. Eating well but could not gain weight.

He began consuming the MF for 5 weeks.

He consumed the MF 3 times per day using 3 T for a serving size. He found that mixing it with applesauce was the best way for him to consume it.

The patient gained 8 lb., his GI symptoms improved, and he reported less severe GI pain.

Over the past 4 months he has received a short-course of chemotherapy.

He has continued to consume the MF daily and reports that it continues to help with symptoms and weight maintenance.

Summary and Implications for Practice

A unique medical food designed originally for people with cystic fibrosis; recent case studies show positive outcomes for people with other diagnoses associated with malabsorption – especially fat malabsorption.

Oral

Meals/Snacks/Soft foods

Enteral

via tube flush

Parenteral

to increase calories, help wean from PN