The application of immunonutrition in patients with cancer: current status and future perspectives

Abstract Immunonutrition (IN) is defined as using special nutritional substrates (immnonutrients) to regulate the nutritional status as well as immune and inflammatory functions. Patients with cancer often have chronic inflammation and impaired immune function due to the disease and its treatment, affecting the quality of life of patients and the outcome of cancer treatment. Malnutrition, metabolic abnormalities, immune imbalances and inflammatory responses permeate the entire process of tumor development and progression. Therefore, IN has its great potential in the treatment of cancer patients. Although there has been a large body of evidence, the application of IN in cancer patients meets the challenge, such as the optimal administration time, application population, ingredients of IN, and the dosage and ratio of application etc. Besides, new studies with better designed are emerging. The aim of this review is to summarize recent evidences in IN in patients with cancer, and to guide the clinical application.