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Published on: May 2, 2017
Immunonutrition and critical illness: an update
1Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA. bmizock@earthlink.net
Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)
|April 13, 2010
Summary
Immunonutrition, using nutrients to support immune function, can benefit critical illness patients. However, inappropriate use poses risks, prompting a review of guidelines to clarify its safe application.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Nutrition
- Immunology
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Dietary supplementation with immune-modulating nutrients shows promise in critical illness.
- Concerns exist regarding potential harm from inappropriate immunonutrition use.
- Clinician apprehension has limited the adoption of immunonutrition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss mechanisms of immune nutrient modulation in critical illness.
- To review evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for adult immunonutrition.
- To clarify controversial aspects and guide practitioners on immunonutrition use.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of immunonutrition mechanisms.
- Analysis of recent evidence-based clinical practice guidelines.
- Synthesis of information to provide a practitioner roadmap.
Main Results:
- Immune nutrients can modulate innate and acquired immunity in critical illness.
- Guidelines offer clarity on controversial immunonutrition issues.
- A framework for appropriate immunonutrition application is presented.
Conclusions:
- Immunonutrition holds therapeutic potential in critical care when used correctly.
- Understanding mechanisms and guidelines is crucial for safe and effective application.
- This review aims to facilitate informed clinical decision-making regarding immunonutrition.
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