Enteral nutrition formulas with immune-enhancing nutrients, such as n -3 fatty acids, may manage patients' nutritional status and pathophysiological processes. The aim of our study was to investigate natural killer (NK) cell activity alterations and related cytokine changes resulting from feeding with soybean oil-containing enteral nutrition formula (control group) and plant-derived n -3 fatty acid-enriched enteral nutrition formula. SUBJECTS/METHODS

Subjects participated for 14 consecutive days and consumed enteral formula containing canola and flaxseed oil (n3EN, test group) in nonsurgical patients hospitalized for rehabilitation. Blood samples were collected on the first day and 14 days after the consumption of each formula daily, and anthropometric parameters were collected. Hematology and biochemical values were analyzed, and NK cell activities and serum cytokine concentration were measured. A total of sixty subjects were included in the analysis, excluding dropouts. RESULTS

No significant differences were found in biochemical parameters. The n3EN group's NK cell activities at effector:tumor cell ratios of 10:1, 5:1, 2.5:1 and 0.625:1 were significantly higher than those of the control group after two weeks ( P < 0.05). However, there were no statistically significant differences in serum cytokine interleukin (IL)-12, interferon-γ, IL-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α values between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, this study elucidates the beneficial effects of plant-derived n -3 fatty acid supplementation in enteral formula on NK cell activity.