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Modulation of postoperative immune response by enteral nutrition with a diet enriched with arginine, RNA, and omega-3 fatty acids in patients with upper gastrointestinal cancer

M. Senkal, M. Kemen, H.‐H. Homann, Ulrich Eickhoff, J. Baier, Volker Zumtobel

PubMed, 1995

42 participants · 121 citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To find out whether an enteral diet supplemented with arginine, RNA, and omega-3 fatty acids modulated the production of interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-2 receptor, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) after operations for upper gastrointestinal cancer. DESIGN: Prospective double blind clinical study. SETTING: University hospital, Germany. SUBJECTS: 42 patients randomised into two groups (n = 21 each), one of which was given an isocaloric and isonitrogenous placebo diet and one of which was fed the same diet supplemented with arginine, RNA, and omega-3 fatty acids. INTERVENTIONS: The cytokines were measured before operation and on postoperative days 1, 3, 7, 10, and 16. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Comparison of concentrations of cytokines in the two groups. RESULTS: Among those receiving the placebo diet (after spontaneous stimulation) IL-6 concentrations were significantly higher on days 3 and 7 (p < 0.05) and TNF-alpha concentrations on day 7. In contrast (after stimulation with phytohaemagglutinin) mean concentrations of IL-2 receptor were significantly higher on days 3 and 7, and of IL-1 beta and IL-2 on day 16 (p < 0.05) in the group receiving the supplemented diet. CONCLUSION: Supplementation of an enteral diet with arginine, RNA and omega-3 fatty acids can modulate the acute phase reaction as indicated by the reduction in concentrations of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in the group fed the supplemented diet. Patients receiving…

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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: 42 participants or records.

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