Table 5.
Summary of patients with adverse events (AE) in the polymeric enteral nutrition (PEN) 1 and 2 groups and the steroid group
| Steroids | PEN1 | PEN2 | |
| Patients with AE | 10 | 8 | 7 |
| No of AE | 12 | 11 | 9 |
| Adverse events* | |||
| Nausea/vomiting | 0 | 5 | 4 |
| Diarrhoea | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Abdominal cramp | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Abdominal bloating | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Acne | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Moon facies | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Hyperglycaemia | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Muscle weakness | 1 | 0 | 0 |
*All adverse effects were mild and did not require therapy withdrawal. However, the amount of diet prescribed in the enteral groups was reduced in three patients (not below 80% of requirements).