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Immunonutrition

  • Symposium on Hospital-Based Nutrition
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The Indian Journal of Pediatrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Nutrition and immunology are interrelated. Several nutrients like arginine, glutamine, omega-3-fatty acids and nucleotides enhance cellular immunity, modulate tumor cell metabolism and improve clinical outcome in stress situations. Glutamine supplementation has been shown to decrease incidence of sepsis and to reduce length of hospital stay in bone marrow transplant patients, low birth weight infants, surgical and multiple trauma patients. Studies with arginine have shown a reduction in infectious complications and lower mortality, however a better understanding of the biology of arginine is needed. Omega-3-fatty acid supplimentation as in fish oil stimulates the immune system. The beneficial effects of immunonutrition in surgical patients has been demonstrated inseveral studies. It significantly reduces infectious complications and length of hospital stay. In critically ill patients immunonutrition may decrease infectious complications but it is not associated with a mortality advantage. Pediatric experience is limited, but the future is promising.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Apollo Centre for Advanced Pediatrics, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Sarita Vihar, New Delhi, India

    R. Singh &  A. Sibal (Senior Consultant Pediatric Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist)

  2. Pushpawati Singhania Research Institute for Liver Renal and Digestive Diseases (PSRI), New Delhi, India

    S. Gopalan

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  1. R. Singh
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  2. S. Gopalan
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  3. A. Sibal
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Correspondence to A. Sibal.

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Singh, R., Gopalan, S. & Sibal, A. Immunonutrition. Indian J Pediatr 69, 417–419 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02722634

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