Commonly asked questions

As with all health conditions, nutrition plays an important role. Specialized nutrition for GI disorders — like Peptamen® tube-feeding formulas — is designed to facilitate absorption and tolerance, avoid unpleasant side effects like diarrhea and vomiting, and to help give you the nutrition you need in order to promote better outcomes for your health.

Tube feeding is a way of providing nutrition to individuals who cannot take in adequate nutrients in the conventional way of eating and drinking by mouth. There are various reasons why people need tube feeding. There are also different locations on the body where a tube can be placed for tube feeding. Learn more about tube feeding.

Whey is one of the main forms of protein found in milk. The other form is casein. Soy protein is plant-based and comes from soybeans. Whey is extracted from milk during the pasteurization process. Whey protein doesn’t curdle and therefore empties more quickly from the stomach than casein, which may be helpful for someone who has a GI disorder and is experiencing reflux or vomiting. The source of protein in Peptamen® formulas is 100% whey protein.

Peptides are small pieces of protein that have been broken down or pre-digested into little fragments that are more easily absorbed and further digested in the intestinal tract. The protein in Peptamen® tube-feeding formulas is in the form of comparably small peptides, facilitating both digestion and absorption of protein.

Insurance plans can differ greatly, so it is best to check with yours regarding coverage. In addition, Nestlé Health Science offers Peptamen® formula patients a complimentary resource to help in navigating your individual reimbursement questions. Visit formula4success.

A chronic digestive disorder, or GI disorder, is an ongoing condition that causes your GI (gastrointestinal) tract to not be able to adequately break down and absorb nutrients from regular food taken by mouth. It can also be referred to as impaired GI function, GI dysfunction, GI impairment and gut dysfunction. 

The GI system consists of all the parts of the body that are needed for breaking down, processing and absorbing food. This predominantly includes the mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach, small intestine and colon (large intestine). It also includes the organs such as the liver and pancreas that produce chemicals, like enzymes and bile, that we need to break down food.

Reasons for GI disorders can vary widely. Some people may be born with one while others may develop issues over the course of their life or it may be a result of another disease, like cystic fibrosis. 
 

GI disorders affect millions of people of all ages — men, women and children.

Your healthcare professional will calculate the amount of enteral nutrition that you need in order to support your health. When using a tube-feeding formula like Peptamen®, it is important to follow your doctor’s orders. 

Protein helps build and maintain tissues in the body. Muscle, organs and the immune system are made up of protein. The protein source in tube-feeding formulas typically comes from milk or soy. 

This is the process used in Peptamen® tube-feeding formulas to break down or pre-digest the whey protein using proteolytic enzymes that simulate pancreatic protein digestion, which is how the body normally digests protein.

The body needs fat for energy to insulate and protect organs and to make important chemicals in the body such as hormones. Medium-chain fats, also called medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), are made up of fatty acids that are shorter in chain length than long-chain fats (LCTs). The body has to work harder to digest LCTs. MCTs are directly absorbed into the portal blood and utilized more efficiently by those who need them, which is why you find MCTs in Peptamen® tube-feeding formula.

Some common symptoms of intolerance include nausea, slow emptying of the stomach or vomiting, bloating or distention and diarrhea.  Any of these symptoms can be signs that you are not digesting and absorbing your tube-feeding optimally.  Be sure to talk to your doctor if you’re experiencing any of these feelings or if you’re experiencing other symptoms.

Peptamen® formula is an easy-to-absorb, well-tolerated specialized enteral nutrition solution. It’s a tube-feeding formula for intolerance that is easy for the body to digest and absorb. The Peptamen® family of formulas are the only peptide-based formulas with enzymatically hydrolyzed 100% whey protein. Peptamen® formula also has most of its fats from easily digested MCTs.

Peptamen® tube-feeding formulas can also be consumed orally, but only if that is what your doctor has prescribed. Be sure to follow the instructions from your healthcare team to best understand why they have chosen either a feeding tube or oral intake for your nutrition. 

Yes. If your doctor has prescribed oral use of Peptamen formulas, you can easily create flavoring options with these recipes.

Peptamen® formula was developed 30 years ago with the GI patient in mind.  It was developed as a pre-digested formula to enhance nutrient absorption and tolerance. It has been a sole source of nutrition for many patients when other formulas simply would not provide adequate nutrition. 

Yes. Peptamen® formulas have been studied in over 60 clinical trials over the last 25 years. Nestlé Health Science remains committed to a rigorous clinical research process for its nutritional therapies. 

There are a few options for you to consider for purchasing Peptamen® tube-feeding formulas. You can ask your healthcare team for a reference, you may already be working with a home care company or durable medical equipment company, or you may also purchase Peptamen formulas online at amazon.com 
or at the Nestlé Health Science store.