What enters the body in excessive amounts during enteral feeding, risking dehydration?

Prepare for the NCLEX Nutrition Exam. Employ flashcards and multiple choice questions with helpful hints and explanations. Ensure you're ready for your exam!

In the context of enteral feeding, the presence of high sugar contents can indeed lead to excessive entry of osmotic substances into the body. When high concentrations of sugars are included in enteral feeds, they can create an osmotic imbalance that draws water into the intestines. This can result in a higher concentration of solutes in the gastrointestinal tract compared to the surrounding tissues, leading to an increased risk of dehydration as water is pulled away from the body's cells and into the gut.

Additionally, the high sugar content can also promote diarrhea, as the body attempts to dilute and excrete the excess sugars, further exacerbating the risk of dehydration. Therefore, monitoring the sugar content in enteral feeds is crucial to maintaining proper hydration levels and preventing adverse effects associated with excessive osmotic load.

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