Kate Farms Inc., a company specializing in plant-based oral and tube feeding formulas, recently announced a new study at the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) virtual annual meeting, which demonstrated improved tolerance, weight gain, and adherence in 159 pediatric formula users between the ages of one and 20 years old.
 
The purpose of the study was to describe symptom frequency of constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, bloating, and adherence reported in pediatric patients who have been on a pea protein plant-based enteral formula. An electronic survey, utilizing the clinical trial software REDCap, was sent via email to those who had contacted Kate Farms for a formula sample.
 
Both patients and caregivers reported improved tolerance, weight gain, and adherence. In the 159 patients who switched to Kate Farms, 33-45% of patients reported reductions in episodes of constipation, bloating, vomiting, and diarrhea, 90.6% gained or maintained weight, 41% achieved better adherence (89.6% adherence compared to 48.4% on previous formula).
 
Adherence was defined in this survey as consuming 75% or more of the prescribed formula. This is an important measure because when patients are unable to adhere to a treatment plan, it becomes difficult if not impossible to meet life-preserving goals like weight gain or maintenance.
 
77.4% of caregivers also reported that they felt patients were healthier on the new formula, and 88.7% of caregivers reported that the new formula improved their nutrition.
 
“I’m very pleased to see these results among a large and diverse pediatric population,” lead author Stanley A. Cohen, MD, said. “Improved adherence is particularly significant because kids who use the formula will stay on their regimen successfully.”