title: Role of nutrition in the management of malnutrition and immune dysfunction of trauma.
abstract: Current nutrition support improves patient outcome in trauma patients. It appears to do so by limiting the adverse effects of specific nutrient or generalized nutrient deficiencies. Immunosuppression, however, continues as a significant clinical problem. This immunosuppression appears to be part of the inflammatory response that accompanies trauma, and in part, to represent the need for conditional nutrients in this setting. Three nutrients that are being evaluated include arginine, uracil as ribonucleic acid and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Animal studies report improved immune function. Early clinical trials are reporting improved immune function and patient outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Clinical Nutrition, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
authors.forename: F B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Cerra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D014498:Uracil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D014498:Uracil; D001120:Arginine