title: Clinical benefits of an immune-enhancing diet for early postinjury enteral feeding.
abstract: In this multicenter prospective controlled trial, 98 evaluable patients sustaining major torso trauma were randomized to receive early enteral nutrition with a new "immune-enhancing" diet (study: n = 51) or a standard stress enteral formula (control: n = 47). At baseline, both groups had comparable demographics and Injury Severity Scores. After 7 days of feeding, the groups had equivalent increases in serum total protein, albumin, and transferrin concentrations. Patients receiving the "immune-enhancing" diet, however, experienced significantly greater increases in total lymphocyte (p = 0.014), T lymphocyte (p = 0.04), and T-helper (p = 0.004) cell numbers. Additionally, these patients had significantly fewer intraabdominal abscesses (study, 0% vs. control, 11%; p = 0.023) and significantly less multiple organ failure (study, 0% vs. control, 11%; p = 0.023). In conclusion, this multicenter trial suggests this "immune-enhancing" enteral diet offers clinical benefits in stressed surgical patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Denver General Hospital, CO 80204-4507.
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kudsk
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Bower
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Koruda
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barbul
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000328:Adult; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome