Hyperosmolar infant formulae: Potential problems in clinical use

Problems related to diet management of maternal phenylketonuria

“…Elemental diets, due to their chemically defined nature, consist of small molecules that often provide an osmolality greater than the physiological tolerance of the patient. Abdominal cramping, diarrhoea, distension, nausea and vomiting have resulted from use of hyperosmolar feeds (Cashel et al, 1978). Aside from gastrointestinal distress, more serious consequences can occur such as hypertonic dehydration (Abrams et al, 1975), hypovolaemia (Coodin et al, 1971), hypernatraemia (Seegar and Chesney, 1977) and death (Endres et al, 1984).…”