Patients with chronic liver disease have a high risk to malnutrition. Proper nutrition should be provided through a proper nutritional assessment. Enteral nutrition is recommended as a nutritional supplement because it maintains the intestinal mucosa, reduces infectious complications, is less costly than parenteral nutrition, and is more physiological to use intestine. The purpose of this review is to define the nutritional deficiencies of patients with liver disease and to show the indications for enteral nutrition and to validate the efficacy of enteral nutrition. According to the various guidelines and researches, enteral nutrition is used as a solution to the nutritional problems caused by patients with liver disease. The optimal enteral formula will be selected on the nutritional problems. It is expected that the enteral nutrition will reduce especially postoperative complications, intraperitoneal complications, pneumonia, and wound infection. The enteral nutrition for patients with chronic liver disease should be actively implemented.

Enteral feeding therapy has existed since ancient Egypt, but most of the major advances in enteral nutrient techniques and formulas have taken place during the 20th century through the development of sources and ingredients This review provides a historical account of enteral nutrition (EN), including the sources and formulation of macro-and micro-nutrients in the formula and how to manufacture them. The formulas were improved by the development of raw materials that are easier to digest and the next formula is expected to develop functionality using more raw materials, such as ω-3, amino acid, and more functional ingredients to heal the disease.

Enteral nutrition is a method of nutritional support. If the gut works, its use is recommended for nutritional support. Enteral nutrition has several advantages; low cost, more physiologic, and prevention of mucosal atrophy and maintenance of gastrointestinal immunity. Enteral formula is the medical food used for enteral nutrition. Several types of enteral formula are used in clinical practice. I will hereby introduce the types and selection of enteral formula.