Effects of long-term continuous use of immune-enhancing enteral formula on nutritional and immunologic status in non-surgical patients.

Objective: Although the perioperative use of immune-enhancing enteral formula (IEEF) effectively reduces the rate of infectious complications, whether chronic use of IEEF is beneficial is unknown. A prospective randomized clinical trial was performed to examine the safety and effectiveness of long-term IEEF on nutritional and immunologic status in non-surgical patients receiving total enteral nutrition through the gastrostomy access route.

Methods: A total of 30 patients were randomly assigned to two groups in which they received total enteral nutrition, an IEEF (n = 15) or a regular polymeric enteral formula (control group; n = 15) for 12 wk.