Final answer:
Patients who may need parenteral nutrition include those with specific health issues like systemic disorders, chronic illnesses, or undergoing certain treatments, as well as vegetarians, vegans, pregnant or breastfeeding women, premenopausal women, older adults, and those with undernutrition or weakened immune systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
Patients who may benefit from parenteral nutrition include those with health issues that prevent them from eating adequately or absorbing nutrients through the gastrointestinal tract.
Such conditions can include systemic disorders like diabetes mellitus, chronic illnesses such as cancer, inflammatory bowel syndrome, or AIDS, and those undergoing treatments that affect nutrient absorption like chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Specific groups that might need parenteral nutrition include vegetarians, vegans, and others who are avoiding certain food groups and may be at risk of nutrient deficiencies, pregnant women or those breastfeeding who require additional nutrition, premenopausal women in need of extra calcium and iron, and older adults who may experience a natural decline in nutrient absorption or appetite.
In some cases, like with severe undernutrition as seen in conditions such as kwashiorkor, or in individuals with high levels of malnutrition due to lack of protein-rich diets, parenteral nutrition provides vital nutrients that are not being obtained through oral intake.
Moreover, individuals who are unable to maintain a balanced diet due to foodborne illnesses, those with weakened immune systems, or those experiencing food insecurity also might require this type of nutritional support.