CHANGES IN TRACE ELEMENT STORAGE AND CELLULAR IMMUNITY AFTER THE USE OF ENTERAL FORMULA E-6 SUPPLEMENTED WITH TRACE ELEMENTS IN PATIENTS WITH AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS

• Published in: Japanese Journal of National Medical Services Vol. 57; no. 7; pp. 461 - 467
• Main Authors: SHINODA, Ichizo, TAMURA, Yoshitaka, FUJII, Seigo, ICHIHARA, Noriko, NAMBA, Kazuyoshi, HATANAKA, Yoshio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japanese Society of National Medical Services 20.07.2003
• Subjects: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; anemia; cellular immunity; enteral formula; trace elements
• ISSN: 0021-1699; 1884-8729
• DOI: 10.11261/iryo1946.57.461

Subjects were 9 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis who had received long-term enteral nutrition with enteral formula. Trace element storage, blood cell counts, blood chemistry, and cellular immunity were examined before and then one and three months after the initiation of the use of enteral formula supplemented with trace elements. Measurements of serum trace elements showed a significant increase and normalization of selenium levels, but no significant changes in iron, copper, zinc, manganese, and chromium levels. However, the ratio of activity of angiotensin converting enzyme that required zinc for enzymatic reactions significantly increased and normalized, indicating sufficient zinc storage. Copper levels in serum tended to increase. In two cases with a remarkable copper deficiency, serum copper levels normalized after three months of supplementation. Laboratory tests on red blood cells showed alleviation of normocytic or macrocytic anemia, while immunologic studies revealed significant increases in bactericidal activity of neutrophils and NK cell activity. Taken together, the improvement in cellular immunity was attributed to the sufficiency of zinc, and anemia was alleviated possibly due to the sufficiency of copper.