Bio-ecological control of acute pancreatitis: the role of enteral nutrition, pro and synbiotics

Purpose of review Increasing knowledge, both experimental and clinical, supports the fact that early and aggressive enteral nutrition has the capacity to reduce superinflammation and prevent infections in severe acute pancreatitis. Clearly, the main role of enteral nutrition is to boost the immune system, and not, at least initially, to provide calories. Whereas enteral nutrition improves, parenteral nutrition reduces immune functions. Recent findings The content of enteral nutrition solutions is more important than the route of administration per se. Antioxidants, plant fibres and live lactic acid bacteria are especially important for boosting the immune system. Recent studies support the fact that enteral nutrition and the supply of fibres and live lactic acid bacteria may significantly reduce the rate of infections. So far none of the treatments has been able to reduce the incidence of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome and multiorgan dysfunction syndrome. A recent unpublished study indicates, however, that the systemic inflammatory response syndrome and multiorgan dysfunction syndrome can also be reduced if much higher doses of lactic acid bacteria and a combination of several bioactive lactic acid bacteria are used (synbiotics). Summary Immunosupporting enteral nutrition with synbiotics is an important tool to control superinflammation and infection, and might also reduce the multiorgan dysfunction syndrome and systemic inflammatory response syndrome. It is essential that it is supplied early, if possible in the emergency room. New autopositioning regurgitation-resistant feeding tubes are available to facilitate such a policy.