%0 Journal Article
%T Effect of Nutritional Supplements on Immune Function and Body Weight in Malnourished Adults
%A Lawrence J. Cheskin
%A Joseph Margolick
%A Scott Kahan
%A Andrea H. Mitola
%A Kavita H. Poddar
%A Tricia Nilles
%A Sanjivani Kolge
%A Frederick Menendez
%A Michelande Ridor¨¦
%A Shing-Jung Wang
%A Jacob Chou and Eve Carlson
%J Nutrition and Metabolic Insights
%D 2012
%I 
%R 10.4137/NMI.S4460
%X In the United States, approximately 5% of the population is malnourished or has low body weight, which can adversely affect immune function. Malnutrition is more prevalent in older adults and is often a result of energy imbalance from various causes. Dietary supplementation to promote positive energy balance can reverse malnutrition, but has not been assessed for its effect on immune parameters. This 8-week clinical feeding trial evaluated the effect of a commercially available, high-protein, high-energy formula on body weight and immune parameters in 30 adult volunteers with body-mass indices (BMI) <21 kg/m2. After the intervention, participants gained a mean of 3.74 lbs and increased BMI by 0.58 kg/m2. The intervention improved lean body mass and limited body fat accumulation. However, no clinically significant improvements in immune measures were observed. These results support the use of high-protein, high-energy supplements in the treatment of underweight/malnutrition. Further investigation utilizing feeding studies of longer duration, and/or studying severely malnourished individuals may be needed to detect an effect on immune parameters of weight gain promoted by nutritional supplements.
%U http://www.la-press.com/effect-of-nutritional-supplements-on-immune-function-and-body-weight-i-article-a2032