How does enteral nutrition primarily benefit patients?

Enteral nutrition primarily benefits patients by supplying nutrients when oral intake is not possible. This method of providing nutrition directly to the gastrointestinal tract ensures that patients who cannot eat or absorb nutrients by mouth—due to conditions such as dysphagia, severe illness, or post-surgery recovery—still receive the essential calories, proteins, vitamins, and minerals necessary for their recovery and overall health.

Enteral nutrition can help prevent malnutrition and its associated complications, support wound healing, and maintain muscle mass. It is particularly important in cases where patients may have an impaired ability to eat or where oral feeding is not feasible for any reason. On the other hand, while hydration is important and can be part of enteral nutrition formulas, the primary goal is to provide nutrients rather than hydration alone. Therefore, the focus is on nutrient delivery when oral intake is inadequate or impossible.