Getting adequate nutrition can support energy levels, overall health, and physical strength for people living with cystic fibrosis. Nutrition needs vary from person to person, and meeting those needs can become more challenging over time.

People living with CF may find it challenging to get enough energy from food to support their individual health needs. Some people share that eating can begin to feel like a chore. This can make it harder to enjoy choosing, preparing, and eating meals and snacks each day. Tube feeding is one option that may be considered when meeting nutrition needs through eating alone becomes difficult. Experiences with tube feeding vary, and it can bring benefits and challenges for individuals and families.

Tube feedings are typically used to supplement eating, not replace it. Your CF care team will help you figure out how tube feeding can fit into your overall nutrition plan.

When Should I Start Thinking About a Feeding Tube?

There are many reasons why a person with CF or their CF care team may begin talking about whether tube feeding could be helpful. These conversations often focus on how nutrition affects overall health, growth, energy levels, or recovery — not just weight alone.

Some people with CF experience ongoing challenges that make eating enough difficult, such as low appetite, nausea, reflux, fatigue, or feeling full quickly. Others may find it hard to regain weight after illness or to meet higher calorie needs, even when following a high‑calorie eating plan.

If you or your child struggle to eat enough, sharing what feels hardest can help guide the conversation. Talk with your CF care team about what you’re experiencing so you can review available options together. Your care team will work with you to develop a plan that reflects your individual needs and circumstances.

For more information on the benefits of using a feeding tube, watch, “Own Your Feeding Tube With Gunnar Esiason” Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, and Episode 5.

What Kind of Tubes Are There?

• Gastrostomy Tube (G-tube): The most common feeding tube is the gastrostomy tube, also called a G-tube or a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube. It is a flexible tube that is inserted directly into the stomach through an incision in your abdomen. This allows nutrition to be delivered directly into your stomach.
• “Button” G-tube: After you have healed for a few months from the G-tube placement, your doctor may recommend replacing the tube with a "button." This device is flatter and lies against the skin of your abdomen. It can be placed easily once the G-tube site is healed, usually about 8 to 12 weeks after surgery. The button can be opened for feedings or medications and closed in between. For many, the transition to a button makes tube feedings and care easier and more convenient.
• Nasogastric Tube (NG Tube): A nasogastric tube is a thin, flexible tube that goes in your nose, down your throat and into your stomach. An NG tube is the least invasive type of feeding tube because inserting it does not require a surgical incision. These tubes can be inserted each night and then taken out in the morning.  
• Jejunostomy Tube (J-tube): A jejunostomy tube, also called a J-tube, is inserted through an incision in the abdomen directly into the section of your small intestine called the jejunum. It bypasses the stomach. A J-tube would be used if you cannot tolerate feedings directly into the stomach.
• Gastrostomy-Jejunostomy Tube (GJ-tube): A gastrostomy-jejunostomy tube, also called a GJ-tube, is a tube that is inserted through the abdomen into the stomach and then into the jejunum, delivering the feedings directly into the small intestine.

What Goes Through the Tube?

Usually the same supplements that your health care team has prescribed for you to drink can go through the tube. You can use brand-name products and generic supplements that are found over the counter or through your home care or medical equipment company. You can also use specialized tube feeding products depending on your individual needs. Your CF care team can help you pick the tube and the supplement that is right for you.

Types of Feeding Plans

Tube feeding plans can be set up in different ways depending on nutrition needs, daily routines, and personal preferences. Your CF care team will help determine the approach that works best for you or your child.

Some people use continuous tube feeds, which are delivered slowly over several hours, often overnight while sleeping. This approach can provide steady nutrition without interfering as much with daytime meals and activities.

Others use bolus feeds, which are given in larger amounts over a shorter period of time, similar to a meal or snack. Some people use a combination of continuous and bolus feeds as part of their nutrition plan.

Most people who use tube feeding also use digestive enzymes during feedings. Most people do this with Relizorb, a cartridge that contains digestive enzymes and is placed in line between the tube feeding formula and the G‑tube. This enables fats in the formula to be broken down before they enter the body, which can help with digestion and nutrient absorption. Your CF care team can help you understand whether this option may be helpful as part of your tube feeding plan.