Nutrition
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of long-term continuous use of immune-enhancing enteral formula on nutritional and immunologic status in non-surgical patients.
Although the perioperative use of immune-enhancing enteral formula (IEEF) effectively reduces the rate of infectious complications, whether chronic use of IEEF is beneficial is unknown. A prospective randomized clinical trial was performed to examine the safety and effectiveness of long-term IEEF on nutritional and immunologic status in non-surgical patients receiving total enteral nutrition through the gastrostomy access route. ⋯ Long-term use of IEEF is safe in non-surgical patients and results in a significant increase in serum insulin-like growth factor-I concentrations in association with increased humoral immunity.