Enteral nutrition

The effect of enteral and parenteral nutrition support on the incidence of infectious complications has continued to be examined throughout the past year. Unfortunately, these studies continue to be flawed by differences in the macronutrient content of the feeding regimens and therefore only serve to reinforce the negative effects of overfeeding. Furthermore, there continues to be little evidence supporting the importance of bacterial translocation in humans. Studies have also focused on the potential of early enteral nutrition to modulate the hypermetabolic response to trauma. However, although the importance of nutrition support is widely accepted, there is insufficient evidence of improved outcome in patients provided with early enteral feeding. Finally, the past year has brought interest in the use of enteral feedings supplemented with immune-enhancing ingredients. Unfortunately, there is only one well-documented study suggesting benefit to such formulations and therefore at this time the benefit of immune-enhancing ingredients remains largely inconclusive.