ASPEN Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC) Practice Exam

In ARDS, dampening the excessive inflammatory response in the lungs can help improve oxygenation and outcomes, and nutrition can play a role in modulating that inflammation. Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil (such as EPA and DHA) alter cell membrane fatty acid composition, leading to the production of less inflammatory eicosanoids and generation of specialized pro-resolving mediators. This shift helps reduce neutrophil recruitment and cytokine release in the lungs, which is why a feeding formula enriched with omega-3 fatty acids is the most supportive option in this context.

Arginine and glutamine are important for immune function and gut integrity, but their benefits in ARDS are not consistently demonstrated across studies. Nucleic acids are not a standard targeted supplement for ARDS in enteral nutrition.