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Effect of omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids derived from fish oil in major burn patients: A prospective randomized controlled pilot trial

S. Tihista, Estrella Echavarría

Clinical Nutrition, 2017

92 participants · 34 citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The burn patient is the clearest example of prolonged inflammatory response. Various nutrients, particularly omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs), have been demonstrated as attenuating the inflammatory response, and reduce infectious complications. In absence of definitive evidence in major burns the study aimed at investigating the effect particularly on infectious complications of enteral nutrition enriched with ω-3 PUFAs.

METHOD: Prospectively randomized controlled trial.

INCLUSION CRITERIA: adult patients admitted to intensive care (ICU), burns > 15% body surface area (BSA), with inhalation injury requiring mechanical ventilation for ≥ 6 days and enteral nutrition.

INTERVENTION: low-fat (18% energy as fat) modular diet (LF-EN) or identical with 50% of fat as fish oil (FO-EN). Study endpoints: infectious and other complications, length of mechanical ventilation time, mortality.

RESULTS: Altogether 92 patients, aged 40 years old and burned 38% BSA were analyzed (45 patients in LF-EN and 47 in FO-EN). Baseline characteristics were similar. Severe sepsis and septic shock together were significantly fewer in FO-EN group, 15% versus 33%, p = 0.03, (others infections unchanged). Non-infectious complications were less frequent in group FO-EN, with a significant reduction of high gastric residual volume (33% versus 8.5%: p = 0.003). Mechanical ventilation was non-significantly shorter with FO-EN (22 versus 26 days). Mortality did not differ.…

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Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 92 participants or records.

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