Effect of immune-enhancing enteral nutrition formula enriched with plant-derived n-3 fatty acids on natural killer cell activity in rehabilitation patients

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Enteral nutrition formulas with immune-enhancing nutrients, such as n-3 fatty acids, may manage patients' nutritional status and pathophysiological processes. The aim of our study was to investigate natural killer (NK) cell activity alterations and related cytokine changes resulting from feeding with soybean oil-containing enteral nutrition formula (control group) and plant-derived n-3 fatty acid-enriched enteral nutrition formula. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Subjects participated for 14 consecutive days and consumed enteral formula containing canola and flaxseed oil (n3EN, test group) in nonsurgical patients hospitalized for rehabilitation. Blood samples were collected on the first day and 14 days after the consumption of each formula daily, and anthropometric parameters were collected. Hematology and biochemical values were analyzed, and NK cell activities and serum cytokine concentration were measured. A total of sixty subjects were included in the analysis, excluding dropouts. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in biochemical parameters. The n3EN group's NK cell activities at effector:tumor cell ratios of 10:1, 5:1, 2.5:1 and 0.625:1 were significantly higher than those of the control group after two weeks (P < 0.05). However, there were no statistically significant differences in serum cytokine interleukin (IL)-12, interferon-γ, IL-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α values between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this study elucidates the beneficial effects of plant-derived n-3 fatty acid supplementation in enteral formula on NK cell activity.

Effect of Nutritional Risk at Admission on the Length of Hospital Stay and Mortality in Gastrointestinal Cancer Patients

This retrospective study was conducted to determine whether increased length of hospital stay (LOS) and mortality are associated with nutritional risk upon hospital admission in gastrointestinal cancer patients, using a computerized screening tool developed by a university hospital. We included adult gastrointestinal cancer patients whose hospital stays ranged from 24 hours to 90 days. The sample included 4,345 patients. The average age of the patients was 60.5 +/- 11.4 years and 2,959 (68.1%) were males. The mean of LOS was 8.2 +/- 8.2 days and the mortality rate was 3.4% (n = 146). The majority of the patients were at low risk (LG) (n = 3,102 [71.4%]), while 779 patients (17.9%) were at moderate risk (MG), and 464 (10.7%) were at high risk (HG). In comparing the three groups based on nutritional risk, hospital LOS was significantly longer in the HG (11.4 +/- 11.4 days) than it was in the LG (7.7 +/- 7.9 days) and the MG (7.9 +/- 7.9 days) (p < 0.0001). Significant differences were found in the hospital mortality rate, which was the highest in the HG (13.6%) and the lowest in the LG (1.5%) (p < 0.0001). In the multiple logistic regression analysis, moderate-to-severe nutritional risk, increased age, and emergency admission were selected as significant variables for increased LOS and mortality. Further research is needed to evaluate the benefits of nutritional screening and intervention and their effect on outcomes in various disease populations.

Assessment of Colonic Motility and Nutrients Intake in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the colonic motility and nutrients intake in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) and to compare the results with those of normal children. METHOD: Thirty-eight children with spastic CP were participated in this study. They took the radioopaque markers for 3 successive days. Then, abdominal X-ray was taken on the fourth day. Total and segmental colon transits were estimated by the simplified assessment of a single-film technique by Metcalf et al. The amounts of nutrients intake for 3 days were recorded and nutritional factors were analyzed by ESHA Food Processor. Then, daily intakes of the nutrients were compared with Recommended Dietary Allowance of the Korean Nutrition Society. RESULTS: Total and segmental colon transit time were more than 2 times delayed in children with spastic CP as compared with those of normal controls. Total colon transit time was significantly prolonged in quadriplegic and non-ambulatory children (p<0.05). On the evaluation of daily nutrients intake, most of nutritional factors were inadequate in children with spastic CP. CONCLUSION: The children with spastic CP had the problems in colonic motility and nutritional intake. Also, delayed colon transit time was significantly related with poor mobility. Therefore, early intervention for these problems will be required in spastic CP, especially quadriplegic and non-ambulatory children.