title: Nourishing the dysfunctional gut and whey protein.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This review discusses the mechanisms of the dysfunctional gut during the critical illness and the possibility that an immunonutrient such as whey protein can play a role in better tolerance of enteral nutrition, also decreasing inflammation and increasing anti-inflammatory defenses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Impaired gastric motor function and associated feed intolerance are common issues in critically ill patients. Some studies have been published with enteral nutrition enriched with whey protein as a dietary protein supplement that provides antimicrobial activity, immune modulation, improving muscle strength and body composition, and preventing cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early enteral feeding will enhance patient recovery and the use of enteral diets enriched with whey protein may play a role in these patients.
authors.affiliation: ETERNU Multidisciplinary Nutritional Team/Rio de Janeiro - Casa de Saúde São José, Hospital Badim, Hospital Pasteur, Hospital Israelita Albert Sabin, Hospital Cardiotrauma, Casa de Saúde Santa Lúcia, Brazil. vavaabrahao@gmail.com
authors.forename: Valéria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Abrahão
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000628:therapy*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000187:drug effects; D013270:Stomach / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000067816:Whey Proteins
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D008894:Milk Proteins; D000067816:Whey Proteins