Kate Farms has launched two new organic, plant-based formulas, the Standard 1.4 formula and the Pediatric Peptide 1.0 formula, in order to answer the call for more plant-based options to support patients with chronic diseases, specifically those that make it difficult to gain or maintain weight.
 
The Standard 1.4 Formula is a high-calorie, plant-based organic formula designed to benefit patients ages 14 years and older who are experiencing difficulty gaining or maintaining weight. The product is an effective option among patients with cancer, ALS, Crohn’s disease, and other conditions which benefit from calorie-dense formula options, the company reports. The Pediatric Peptide 1.0 formula is designed to help growing children who have impaired digestion due to disease conditions, to help them consume necessary nutrients.
 
The two new formulas join the company’s portfolio of plant-based, clinically-substantiated formulas that support a variety of needs, and they are now available at 95% of all U.S. hospitals. The Standard 1.4 formula and the Pediatric Peptide 1.0 formula are made with tolerance in consideration, to support the millions of patients who experience intolerance due to ingredients found within legacy brands, the company said. The two products are made with USDA organic, non-GMO ingredients, and lack major allergens or artificial sweeteners. They are additionally suitable for lactose-free, vegan, and gluten-free diets, and can be used for either tube feeding or oral intake.
 
“Together with their healthcare providers, patients understand the vital role nutrition plays in their health,” Cynthia Ambres, MD, chief medical officer at Kate Farms, said. “They are demanding better, and we are excited to be able to offer two new formulas with the same high-quality, plant-based, organic ingredients to help patients thrive by overcoming the difficulties associated with other formulas.”
 
Standard 1.4 Formula
New clinical research on the Standard 1.4 formula will be discussed at the 2020 Virtual Congress on Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism, the annual conference held by the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism in September. The clinical trial substantiated that this formula was significantly effective in helping adult oncology patients maintain or gain weight, allowing them to receive the treatment they need.
 
The study was led by Shanya Komar, a registered and licensed oncology dietitian based in Atlanta. It found that among a pool of 13 oncology patients, all reported tolerating the formula without experiencing side effects such as stomach or bowel issues, which would have caused declines in their nutritional health. Six of the nine patients who were able to return for a follow-up reportedly gained weight, while the other three maintained weight while consuming the formula. The formula, in addition to being calorie-dense, will allow the use of one formula for either sole-source or supplemental nutrition through oral intake or tube feeding.
 
“Struggling with a chronic disease brings so many unknowns for patients, and their diets are one thing they can take control of on their journeys,” Komar said. “The patients in this study not only maintained or gained weight and tolerated the Kate Farms formula, but they actually enjoyed it, which also allowed them to continue their treatment. Kate Farms’ medical nutritional formulas empowered patients to improve their nutritional health.”
 
Pediatric Peptide 1.0
Kate Farms Pediatric Peptide 1.0 is a complete nutrition specialty formula, available in a vanilla flavor designed for kids between the ages of 1 and 13 to address impaired digestion. The plant-based peptide formula is made with organic ingredients, and is dairy, soy, corn, gluten, and nut-free.
 
Kate Farms reports that this is the first plant-based formula to demonstrate weight gain and improved tolerance in children. A study published by the Journal of Parental and Enteral Nutrition this year found that, in a clinical trial involving 11 pediatric patients who recently switched to the Pediatric Peptide formula, 86% of the group experienced improved weight-for-age scores, and 90% of the parents involved in the study reported that their children experienced better tolerance compared to the child’s previous formula.
 
Another study, which involved an online survey of 398 participants whose children were taking plant-based enteral formulas, and, reportedly, 67% of the survey participants experienced improved digestive symptoms, including bowel movements, less reflux, abdominal discomfort, bloating, and nausea. 63.8% of the group used an intact pea protein formula, whereas 48.7% of the group used a hydrolyzed pea protein formula. Of those who specifically used the Kate Farms hydrolyzed pea protein formula, 79% of the patients reported feeling healthier.
 
“We know that plant-based foods are less inflammatory and are associated with less diseases in humans,” Dr. Juan Castro, a pediatric surgeon and director of the Colorectal Center at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami, said. “Having a plant-based formula like Kate Farms to be able to treat my patients really helps me give them the best fuel to help them through tough times.”