J.M. Reimund, Y. Arondel, B. Duclos, R. Baumann

Service d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie et d'Assistance Nutritive, Centre Agréé de Nutrition Parentérale à Domicile, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Hôpital de Hautepierre, 67098 Strasbourg Cedex, France.

Dear Sir,
We report recently our results concerning micronutrients status in home parenteral nutrition (HPN) patients, and its relationship to inflammatory parameters and clinical outcome (Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging 2000; 4: 13-18). Unfortunately, as recently noted by Professor A. SHENKIN from the Department of Clinical Chemistry at the University of Liverpool, calculation of the daily intravenous (IV) trace elements (but not vitamins) is wrong. In fact, daily IV micronutrients supplementation is very lower than indicated in table 3 (see table below). However, despite this error, other results from the study are not changed. In particular, the correlation between plasma selenium concentration and mean IV selenium supplementation per week remains positive (r = 0.51, p < 0.001).

Considering these data, it appears that daily IV micronutrient requirement in patients receiving HPN is significantly lower than RDA values usually accepted in the general population (concerning oral intake). This is of course very logical; as Professor SHENKIN wrote it: " because of the reduced level of absorption orally ". Fortunately, this error in our manuscript did not profoundly modify the results of our survey or the aspects that have been developed in the section Discussion. Furthermore, the delivered message in terms of implications for patients management remains true. However, the observed difference between RDA in the general population and daily trace elements IV supplementation in HPN patients leads to further analysis comparing micronutrient status in HPN patients and IV trace elements supply (± residual oral intake), in a larger HPN patients population, in order to progress in determining more accurately an equivalent of " RDA " in these patients group.