The Peptamen Range nutritionally complete peptide based liquid for tube feeding or in a vanilla flavoured variety for oral feeding. Peptamen is formulated for optimal digestion and absorption by patients with impaired gastrointestinal function.

- Peptamen-DriPak
The Peptamen range also includes:
Peptamen Unflavoured, Peptamen Vanilla Cup,
and Nestlé Nutrition Flavour Mix .
Key Features:
- ACBS approved from 5 years of age as a sole source of nutrition or a nutritional supplement for short bowel syndrome, intractable malabsorption, proven inflammatory bowel disease, bowel fistulae.
- Isotonic, nutritionally complete, suitable as an oral sip feed or for administration as a tube feed.
- Available for oral nutrition as a Vanilla flavoured 200ml cup, in
multi packs of 4.
- Available for enteral tube feeding as an unflavoured 375ml can, or 500ml and 1000ml DRIPAC-flex closed feeding system.
- ACBS approved Nestlé Nutrition Flavour Mix (formerly Nestle Clinical Nutrition Flavour Sachets) are available for use with the Peptamen Vanilla Cup.
- Protein source is hydrolysed whey, which promotes more rapid gastric emptying, is an excellent source of all amino acids and contains 7 times more cysteine than casein.
Nutritional profile:
- 1kcal/ml.
- 4g protein/100ml.
- 70% of fat is present as MCT.
- Clinically nil lactose.

- Peptamen logo
COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the significance of the high levels of cysteine in the whey protein in Peptamen?
Whey protein is a superior source of cysteine (it contains seven times more than casein).
Cysteine is one of the three amino acids essential for the production of glutathione, which is the central cellular antioxidant. Anti-oxidants help to prevent the oxidative damage to cells caused by free radicals in certain conditions such as trauma, HIV, adult respiratory distress syndrome and post surgery.
If cysteine is not present in the diet, glutathione will not be produced. This may result in oxidative damage, resulting in more disease complications, increased healing time and longer hospital stays.
Why are peptides absorbed more efficiently than amino acids?
Up to 75% of ingested protein is absorbed across the intestine in the form of peptides.
Amino acid absorption occurs via an amino acid carrier positioned in the membrane. Each amino acid carrier is only able to transport a single amino acid allowing a slow process of absorption.
Peptides are absorbed more rapidly via peptide carriers. Both di and tri peptides are carried across the membrane, after which they are further broken down inside the gut mucosa into their constituent amino acids and then transported via the portal vein to the liver. Peptide carriers are therefore able to transport more amino acids in the form of peptides than amino acid carriers.
Does Nestlé Clinical Nutrition Flavour Sachets affect the osmolarity / osmolality ?
- For vanilla flavour, osmolarity increases from 280 mOsm/l H2O to between
330 to 350 mOsm/l H2O (depending on the flavour).
- Osmolality increases from 340 mOsm/kg H2O to between 400 to 425mOsm/kg
H2O (depending on the flavour).
What is the benefit of having a large proportion of fat as MCT? Medium Chain Triglyceride fats (MCT) are absorbed without the need for bile salt emulsification and are absorbed directly into the portal vein. This promotes a more efficient utilisation of energy substrates.
Patients who require Peptamen will often have problems with malabsorption, so therefore they will absorb MCT more efficiently than long chain fats.

- Peptamen logo
PRODUCT CLINICAL EVIDENCE:
Advances in nutritional management of chronic pancreatitis
Current Gastroenetrology Reports (2000) vol 2: 323-326
J C Shea, I K Hopper, P G Blanco, S D Freedman
Use of a ready-to-feed, semi-elemental formula for gastrostomy tube feedings in children with cystic fibrosis
American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (1999) Abstract
J A Fulton, T D Murphy, D M Orenstein
An elemental diet containing medium-chain triglycerides and enzymatic hydrolysed protein can improve gastrointestinal tolerance in people infected with HIV
Journal of the American Dietetic Association (1998) vol 98 (4): 460-462
S Salomon, J Jung, T Voss, A Suguitan, B Rowe, D Madsen
Comparison of the safety of early enteral vs parenteral nutrition in mild acute pancreatitis
Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (1997) vol 21 (1): 14-20
S A McClave, L M Greene, H L Snider, L J K Makk, W G Cheadle, N A Owens, L G Dukes, L J Goldsmith
Early enteral nutrition support in patients undergoing liver transplantation
Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (1995) vol 19 (6): 437-443
J M Hasse, L S Blue, G U Liepa, R M Goldstein, L W Jennings, E Mor, B S Husberg, M F Levy, T A Gonwa, G B Klintmalm
Successful enteral feeding after massive small bowel resection
Western Journal of Medicine (1993) vol 159: 192-194
D Rodriguez, F Clevenger
Decrease in gastric emptying time and episodes of regurgitation in children with spastic quadriplegia fed a whey based formula
The Journal of Paediatrics (1992) vol 120 (4): 569-572
M Fried, V Khoshoo, D Secker, DGilday, J Ash, P Pencharz
Tolerance to enteral tube feeding diets in hypoalbuminaemic critically ill geriatric patients
Surgery, Gynaecology and Obstetrics (1992) vol 174: 181-188
B Borlase, S J Bell, E J Lewis, W Swails, B Bistrain, A Forse, G Blackburn
Visceral protein levels in trauma patients are greater with peptide diet than with intact protein diet
The Journal of Trauma (1990) vol 30 (7):825-829
J W Meredith, J A Ditesheim, Zaloga GP
Protein digestion and amino acid and peptide absorption
Proceedings of the Nutrition Society (1985) vol 44: 63-72
D B A Silk, G K Grimble, R G Rees
More support papers;
Effects of whey and casein based diets on glutathione and cysteine metabolism in ICU patients
Journal of the American College of Nutrition (1994 ) vol 13 (5): 535
B Rowe, K Kudsk, P Borum, D Madsen
Management of HIV-related weight loss and diarrhea with an enteral formula containing whey peptides and medium-chain tryglycerides
Proceedings of the VII International Conference on AIDS, Florence Italy (1993)
T Voss, B Rowe, L Graf, C Keyes, J Beal
Pharmokinetic assessment of an oligopeptide-based enteral formula in abdominal surgery patients
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (1998) vol 67: 124-128
F Ziegler, G Nitenburg, C Coudray-Lucas, P Lasser, J Giboudeau, L Cynober
Peptamen: A novel therapy in patients with chronic pancreatitis
Gastroenterology (1997) vol 112: A441
S D Freedman
Repletion of nutritional parameters in surgical patients receiving peptide versus amino acid elemental feedings
Nutrition Research (1994) vol 14: 3-12
P Donald, E Miller, B Schirmer
Amino acid and peptide absorption from the gastrointestinal tract
Federation Proceedings (1986) vol 45 (8): 2268 - 2271
K E Webb