A woman, age 36, had suffered from anorexia nervosa for 10 years and was admitted to the hospital for treatment. Her weight was about 60% of the ideal for her height (5 feet, 5 inches, 72.6 lbs). She was fed by gavage (nasogastric feeding) with 3L/day of a nutrient solution that provided 1000 kcal/L and had the

following composition:

Protein hydrolysate 0.37 moles N

Fat 42 g

Carbohydrate 125 g

Sodium 21.7 mmole

Potassium 32 mmole

Chloride 28 mmole

Magnesium 8.3 mmole

Phosphate 16.1 mmole

Calcium 15 mmole

Zinc 157 ?mole

Manganese 45 ?mole

Copper 15.7 ?mole

Iodine 0.6 ?mole

Iron 161 ?mole

Complete vitamin mixture

No complications resulted from the treatment and on the basis of the positive Nitrogen balance and the positive balances of several other nutrient minerals it was concluded that the nutrients were being used for the synthesis of normal body mass. After 21 days, the patient increased 22 lbs in body weight. 

a) What is the protein equivalent of the nutrient fluid (i.e. how many grams of protein are there) � to answer this you will have to find out how much nitrogen a typical protein contains) 

What could be concluded concerning the biological value of the nutrient fluid used (4 points) � Please show your calculations and explain your answers

b) What differences might be noted in the nature of the nutrients for gavage feeding as compared to total parenteral feeding (hyperalimentation) (4 points). Under what conditions would each type of feeding be useful and/or desired?

c) What additional component might be added to the diet to ensure optimum nutrition. and please explain why.