The role of Pulmocare in acute and chronic respiratory insufficiency

The nutritional status of patients with respiratory insufficiency is important. The incidence of malnutrition is high, both in patients with chronic respiratory disease and those hospitalized with acute respiratory failure. Particular attention has to be given to the composition of the diet recommended for these patients. There is evidence that the metabolism of carbohydrate results in a marked increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) production in part because of an increase in respiratory quotient to a value that exceed 1.0, and there is evidence that a nutritional regimen with a high fat content may reduce carbon dioxide production with a respiratory quotient lower than 0.8. Moreover respiratory failure can be precipitated in patients with COPD when they are fed with high carbohydrate diet; on the other hand in acute patients requiring artificial ventilation the time spent on artificial ventilation from the start of feeding to weaning was 42% less in a low carbohydrate/high fat (Pulmocare) diet. In conclusion a low carbohydrate high fat diet is recommended in both acute and chronic respiratory insufficiency.