Current opinion in clinical nutrition and metabolic care
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Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care · May 2006
ReviewCauses and consequences of inadequate substrate supply to pediatric ICU patients.
The prevalence of malnutrition among children admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit is still high. Assessment of nutrient supply is essential in the care of critically ill children because inadequate nutrition can increase morbidity and mortality. This review covers the causes and consequences of inadequate nutrient supply to critically ill children. ⋯ In the majority of children admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit, nutritional problems--both underfeeding and overfeeding--occur during admission due to poor estimation of nutritional needs, under-prescribing and problems in the delivery of the nutrients. Recommendations are made in order to prevent inadequate nutritional supply and its potentially harmful consequences in critically ill children.
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Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care · May 2006
ReviewPracticalities of selenium supplementation in critically ill patients.
To review the reason for and clinical effects of selenium supplementation in critically ill patients. ⋯ The available evidence suggests that selenoproteins play an important role in the immunomodulation of critically ill patients and a sodium selenite supplementation upregulates these selenoenzymes. The intervention trials with sodium selenite performed to date are small and therefore only a tendency in reduction of morbidity and mortality could be demonstrated. Larger trials are necessary to show the supposed benefits and risks of selenite supplementation in critically ill patients.
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Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care · Mar 2006
ReviewMolecular aspects of insulin therapy in critically ill patients.
This review provides an overview of molecular mechanisms involved in beneficial effects of insulin in insulin resistant critically ill patients. ⋯ Critically ill patients requiring intensive care for more than a few days have a high risk of death. A tight control of glucose levels by intense insulin therapy reduced morbidity in critically ill patients. Unraveling the molecular mechanisms of insulin will provide new insights into the pathogenesis of multiple organ failure and will allow novel therapeutic strategies to manage patients needing intensive care.
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Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care · Mar 2006
ReviewFish oil in the critically ill: from experimental to clinical data.
The aim of this paper is to describe recent relevant literature concerning the role of n-3 lipids derived from fish oil in clinical nutrition in an intensive care setting. ⋯ N-3 lipids exhibit strong immunologic properties. They offer the possibility to counterbalance the negative effects of conventional n-6 fatty acids. Recent studies exhibit positive effects of intravenous use of fish oil on immunologic functions and clinical parameters in surgical and septic patients.
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Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care · Mar 2006
ReviewGlycemic control and nutrition in the intensive care unit.
Hospital clinicians frequently encounter hyperglycemia due to diabetes or the stress of critical illness in patients who are receiving nutrition support. ⋯ Questions persist regarding the optimal glucose goal range in differing patient groups. In addition, while the technology to deliver glycemic control in intensive care unit settings is widely available, data are limited about effective and safe insulin infusions. Research should focus on the risks and benefits of providing nutrition support in this group of patients, optimal glucose goal ranges, and on methods of achieving desired glucose goal ranges.