Scrimshaw · JPEN. Journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition 1991 · narrative review · n=?

Rhoades Lecture. Effect of infection on nutrient requirements.

Cited 45 times in the scientific literature.

Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data

Narrative review/lecture presenting mechanism-based reasoning without primary empirical data or systematic synthesis.

PubMed 1766046 · doi:10.1177/0148607191015006589 · record verified 2026-08-26

What was done

Narrative lecture summarizing the physiological mechanisms and clinical consequences of infection on nutrient intake, absorption, metabolic expenditure, and recovery, particularly in hospitalized patients.

What was found

The abstract reports no numerical data. Qualitatively, it states that infections—including mild and subclinical cases—decrease nutrient intake and increase nutrient losses via reduced intestinal absorption, direct gastrointestinal losses, metabolic diversion, and increased basal metabolic rate during fever, affecting protein, energy, and micronutrient status.

Why it matters

Synthesizes the mechanisms linking infection to worsened nutritional status, highlighting the importance of nutritional support during illness and convalescence in vulnerable hospitalized patients.

Limits

Narrative review containing no primary empirical data, no sample size or systematic search strategy, and no quantitative statistical outcomes.

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