Immunonutrition and cytokine response in patients with head injury.
BACKGROUND
To investigate whether short-term postoperative immunonutrients feeding can modulate the level of cytokines in patients with head injury compared to standard enteral tube feeding formula.


METHODS
A randomized double-blind study was carried out on 40 moderate to severe head injury patients. They were randomized to have continuous nasogastric tube feeding within 24 hours after surgery of either the immunonutrient containing enteral formula (group A) or the standard enteral formula (group B). The level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and 10 (IL-10) were measured on day 1 (before feeding), and subsequently on day 3 and day 5.


RESULTS
Twenty patients were randomly selected in each group, who had similar severity levels of injury. Compared to the level of IL-6 on day 1, the level of IL-6 was markedly reduced on day 3 in group A (p = 0.002), whereas such reduction in group B was not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Short term postoperative immunonutrient feeding can reduce cytokine level, indicating that systemic inflammatory response syndrome might be modulated by such feeding.
Khorana
Jiraporn
J
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Rerkasem
Kittipan
K
Apichartpiyakul
Chatchawann
C
Sakonwasun
Choompone
C
Watcharasakslip
Wanarak
W
Waniyapong
Tanat
T
Norasethtada
Thanya
T
Jittawatanarak
Kaweesak
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D005526:Food, Formulated / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
D015850:Interleukin-6; D016753:Interleukin-10