Evaluation of immunomodulatory nutrients in critically ill patients in the intensive care unit

Glutamine and omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to decrease infection rates, antibiotic use, and hospital length of stay. However, whether giving immunonutrients to critically ill patients is beneficial remains controversial. In our study, we aimed to look at the effectiveness of parenteral unsaturated (omega-3) fatty acids and amino acid glutamine in patients with serious conditions in the intensive care unit (ICU).

The data of patients, who received parenteral amino acid glutamine and unsaturated fatty acids (omega-3) in the ICU, were retrospectively analyzed. Eighty-four patients were classified with regard to the length of the immune modulatory nutrient treatment. Groups were constructed according to the length of the treatment in days: 9 days or more (Group I), 3-9 days (Group II), and <3 days (Group III). Demographic data, Acute Physiologic Assessment and Chronic Health Evaluation II Scores (APACHE-II), ICU and hospitalization periods, inotropic medication, 60^th-day mortality, serum biochemistry, and bacterial culture results were recorded. 60^th-day mortality, bacterial culture results, and number of days stayed in ICU were primary outcomes of interest.

Demographic data of the patients and APACHE-II scores among the groups were not significantly different from each other. ICU stay length, hospitalization length, positivity in bacterial cultures, and use of inotropic agents were significantly higher in Group I compare with other groups.

In the ICU, it was observed that patients with multiorgan failure using parenteral unsaturated fatty acids and amino acid glutamine had longer hospital and intensive care stay. It can be said that long-term use of antioxidants and immunonutrition does not have a beneficial effect in patients with multiple organ failure with high APACHE-II scores.