Nutritional Therapy and Infectious Diseases: A Two-Edged Sword
Author Information
Author(s): Haig Donabedian
Primary Institution: University of Toledo
Hypothesis
Is nutritional therapy of value in preventing infectious diseases in the developed world?
Conclusion
Nutritional supplements can prevent infections in surgical patients, but their benefits in other contexts are inconsistent.
Supporting Evidence
- Early enteral feeding prevents infections in surgical patients.
- Cranberry juice can reduce urinary tract infections in women.
- Zinc supplementation may reduce infection rates in sickle cell disease patients.
- Enteral feeding is superior to parenteral feeding in reducing infection risk.
- Multivitamin supplementation shows inconsistent benefits for infection prevention.
Takeaway
Eating the right foods can help keep you from getting sick, especially after surgery, but it doesn't always help if you're already sick.
Methodology
The review analyzed English language publications on nutrition and infection from MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library.
Potential Biases
Potential observer bias in studies due to lack of blinding.
Limitations
The review does not address nutritional interventions in populations with dietary deficiencies.
Participant Demographics
Studies included patients from economically developed nations.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p < 0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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