Efficacy of early enteral nutrition in patients with severe acute pancreatitis: A prospective cohort study

Table 4 Intestinal permeability and inflammatory markers, mean ± SD

Parameter	EEN group (n = 52)	DEN group (n = 48)	P value
Lactulose/mannitol ratio
Baseline	0.186 ± 0.062	0.192 ± 0.068	0.641
Day 7	0.082 ± 0.028a	0.124 ± 0.042b	< 0.001
Diamine oxidase (U/L)
Baseline	18.4 ± 5.6	19.2 ± 6.2	0.509
Day 7	8.6 ± 3.2a	12.4 ± 4.8b	< 0.001
C-reactive protein (mg/L)
Baseline	186 ± 72	192 ± 78	0.684
Day 3	142 ± 56a	178 ± 68b	0.004
Day 7	82 ± 34a	126 ± 52b	< 0.001
Procalcitonin (ng/mL)
Baseline	4.8 ± 2.2	5.2 ± 2.6	0.414
Day 7	1.8 ± 0.9a	3.6 ± 1.8b	< 0.001
WBC count (× 109/L)
Baseline	14.2 ± 4.3	14.8 ± 4.6	0.499
Day 7	9.2 ± 2.8a	12.6 ± 4.2b	< 0.001
Endotoxin (EU/mL)
Baseline	0.42 ± 0.16	0.45 ± 0.18	0.384
Day 7	0.18 ± 0.08a	0.32 ± 0.14b	< 0.001

^aP < 0.05 vs the delayed enteral nutrition group.

^bP < 0.05 vs the early enteral nutrition group.

WBC: White blood cell; EU: Endotoxin units; EEN: Early enteral nutrition; DEN: Delayed enteral nutrition.