Enteral NutritionOral Intake of Enteral Nutrition Formula Preceding Placement and Feeding Via GTube and Its Impact on Formula Intolerance in pALS

The main objective of the proposed study is to evaluate if oral intake of EN formula preceding Gtube placement will impact tolerance upon placement and feeding via Gtube in pALS. This single arm intervention study all participants will receive the intervention and researchers will utilize validated indicators combined with clinical expertise to assess gastrointestinal symptoms of feeding intolerance before and after the intervention.

The main questions this study aims to answer are:

1. Wil participants meeting a greater percentage of their estimated nutritional needs at baseline present a slower disease progression rate and a lower incidence of GI symptoms of feeding intolerance when feeding via Gtube?
2. Will there be significant change in feeding intolerance when oral intake of enteral nutrition formula precedes feeding via Gtube?

This proposed study consists of three stages, as follows:

1. Pre-Intervention: The lead in period of one-week preceding intervention phase I will be timed to initiate 3 weeks before the scheduled Gtube placement procedure. Patients will be advised to maintain their usual food and beverage intake. Dietary intake and GI symptoms data will be collected by research personnel.
2. Phase I: Dietary intake data collected from the pre-intervention stage will be averaged and used to determine the number of cartons of enteral nutrition formula needed to meet the participants estimated nutritional needs. For two weeks +- 2 days participants will be directed to drink the number of cartons of a pre-selected enteral nutrition formula to meet their estimated nutritional needs when combined to their current oral dietary intake. A plant based EN formula (Kate Farms 1.4 Standard) commonly prescribed for pALS was selected to be provided to all patients in the study to keep this variable constant. Weekly data collection of dietary intake and GI symptoms will be ongoing.
3. Phase II: At the end of phase I, patients will undergo a Gtube placement at their selected medical facility. For the following two weeks +- 2 days participants will be directed to feed via Gtube the same number of cartons of the enteral nutrition formula used orally on phase I and make no changes to their current oral intake.