Effect of microbiological and immunological enteral nutrition on intestinal function and immune status in the patients with long-term use of antibiotics

Abstract

Background: To investigate the effect of microbiological and immunological enteral nutrition (MEIN composed by probiotics, L-Glutamide, deep-sea fish oil and Nutrison Fibre) on intestinal function and immune status in the patients with long-term use of antibiotics.

Patients and methods: 56 severe apoplexy patients with pulmonary infectious complication were randomly divided into two groups: a microbiological and immunological enteral nutrition group (MEIN group, n=28) and an enteral nutrition group (EN group, n=28). MEIN suspension (Live Combined Bifidobacterium, L-Glutamide, deep-sea fish oil and Nutrison Fibre) and ordinary enteral nutrition liquid (Nutrison Fibre) were given to patients of the MEIN group and EN group respectively for at least for 20 days. Then the trophonemata, incidence rates of abdominal pain, abdominal distention and diarrhea, tolerance and immunologic parameters including CD4+, CD8+ T-lymphocyte percentage, CD4+/CD8+ ratio and NK cells in peripheral blood were estimated and compared between the two groups during the period of nutritional support.

Results: No statistical difference was observed in trophonemata between the two groups (p > 0.05). The abdominal pain and abdominal distension incidence rates of the patients in MEIN group were significantly lower than those of patients in EN group. (7.2% vs 32.1%, 14.2% vs 39.3%, 0% vs 10.7%) (p < 0.05). There was a significantly better tolerance in MEIN group compared to EN group after treatment (p < 0.05). In addition, the levels of immune parameters of the patients in MEIN group were much higher compared to that of those in EN group on the 20th day after grouping (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Compared with the general formula EN, MEIN is more helpful for the patients with Long-term use of antibiotics in improving intestinal function and cellular immune function.