Effects of immune-modulating formula on nutritional status and inflammatory marker in ICU patients

This study compared the effects of immune-modulating formula (Impact- glutamine or Nu-Immune) and complete balanced formula on the nutritional status and inflammatory markers in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. The immune-modulating formulas contain arginine inverted commas n-3 fatty acid and glutamine in addition to complete balanced nutrition. Twelve ICU patients with Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACH II) with score 8-15 were randomly assigned to the control and the test groups with enteral feeding for one week. The control group was fed with a general balanced formula, whereas the test group was fed with either Impact-glutamine or Nu-Immune. Blood samples were collected before and after the experimental period to compare the plasma pre-albumin, albumin, C-reactive protein levels, leukocyte counts, APACH II score and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) score between groups. The results showed that there were no differences in age, body weight, height, nutritional status and inflammatory markers between the 2 groups before nutritional intervention. However, affer enteral feeding for 7 days, APACH II score reduced, While albumin and pre-albumin levels increased, regardless the patients were fed with immune-modulating or general formula. Patients with immune-modulating formula reduced the SIRS score after feeding for 7 days. These results suggest that enteral feeding improved protein status in ICU patients. Formula with specific nutrients supplementation reduced the severity of the diseases. Nevertheless, compared with the general balanced formula, immune-modulating diet had no favorable effects on nutritional status and inflammatory markers in critically ill patients.