Immunonutrition in Critical Illness: What Is the Role?

Mary S. McCarthy, Robert G. Martindale

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

Acute illness–associated malnutrition leads to muscle wasting, delayed wound healing, failure to wean from ventilator support, and possibly higher rates of infection and longer hospital stays unless appropriate metabolic support is provided in the form of nutrition therapy. Agreement is still lacking about the value of individual immune-modulating substrates for specific patient populations. However, it has long been agreed that there are 3 primary targets for these substrates: 1) mucosal barrier function, 2) cellular defense function, and 3) local and systemic inflammation. These targets guide the multitude of interventions necessary to stabilize and treat the hypercatabolic intensive care unit patient, including specialized nutrition therapy. The paradigm shift that occurred 30 years ago created a unique role for nutrition as an agent to support host defense mechanisms and prevent infectious complications in the critically ill patient. This overview of immunonutrition will discuss the evidence for its role in critical illness today.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)348-358
Number of pages11
JournalNutrition in Clinical Practice
Volume33
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2018

Keywords

  • arginine
  • critical illness
  • enteral nutrition
  • glutamine
  • immune system
  • immunonutrition
  • nutritional support
  • ω-3 fatty acids

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Nutrition and Dietetics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Immunonutrition in Critical Illness: What Is the Role?'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this