Nutritional adequacy and diet diversity following a tube weaning program.

ObjectivesLimited research has examined nutritional changes following tube weaning. The main objective of this study was to investigate the adequacy and quality of nutrition, growth, and gastrointestinal symptoms in children undergoing a 3-week outpatient tube weaning program based on hunger provocation.MethodsPatient records from all children treated with a tube weaning program at Helsinki University Children's Hospital between May 2016 and May 2024 were reviewed retrospectively for nutritional intake, gastrointestinal symptoms, and growth.ResultsThe study included 51 patients (median age: 2.7 years [interquartile range, IQR 2.1-4.2]). Median duration of tube feeding before program was 2.4 years (IQR 1.9-3.3). In the last available follow-up, 37/51 (72.5%) of the children were successfully weaned off tube feeding. After the program, the median proportion of total energy intake derived from regular food and drinks increased from 6.2% to 77.2%, and the median energy derived from tube feeding decreased from 92.9% to 0.0% (p