The use of aggressive perioperative intravenous amino acid administration to prevent postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) has been examined. While it is crucial to understand the clinical course of postoperative AKI in order to develop a nutritional strategy, few studies have investigated real-world postoperative AKI after major surgeries and nutrition practices.

We herein assessed the incidence of postoperative AKI and intravenous amino acid use in patients without renal dysfunction who were admitted to the intensive care unit after major surgery in an administrative claims database. Postoperative AKI within one week was evaluated according to the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes creatinine criteria.

In 30,751 patients analyzed, AKI occurred in 7.1 % (1.3 % were stage 2 or higher). Blood urea nitrogen levels had not returned to baseline two weeks after surgery, even in patients with stage 1 AKI. The incidence of delayed AKI (diagnosed 2-7 days after surgery) was higher in patients who underwent non-cardiovascular surgery (25.1 % for cardiovascular surgery and 37.2 % for non-cardiovascular surgery). Patients with delayed AKI had a significantly poorer prognosis than those diagnosed with AKI on day 1. Although the practice of intravenous amino acids varied across surgeries, few patients received aggressive doses, such as 2 g/kg/day. No significant differences were observed in the incidence of AKI between patients who received and did not receive an amino acid infusion on the day of surgery.

In real-world settings, perioperative aggressive amino acid administration was not a common practice, and renal protective effects may not be achieved with usual doses. Nutritional assessments with the daily monitoring of AKI stages may be warranted for the provision of nutrition therapy, including the protein load.

Nutrition therapy in the intensive care unit (ICU) is a fundamental aspect of care, but there is minimal guidance for patients with Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) despite the potentially severe consequences of this infection on the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to assess nutrition therapy in critically ill patients with CDI compared to those without CDI for differences in nutrition delivery, need for nutrition support, and safety of nutrition therapy.

This was a single-center, retrospective cohort study of patients admitted to the ICU from January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2022. This study compared nutrition therapy in critically ill patients who had CDI compared to a cohort who had diagnoses of other infections. Outcomes included doses of nutrition prescribed, need for nutrition support, and measures of enteral feeding tolerance.

A total of 66 patients were included in this study, 33 in each group. The CDI group received higher median maximum calories (24.3 kcal/kg/day) compared to the control group (21.7 kcal/kg/day) [MD 3.5, 95 % CI 0.05-7.49, p = 0.04] and higher median maximum protein doses (1.1 g/kg/day) to (0.9 g/kg/day) [MD 0.2, 95 % CI 0.04-0.38, p = 0.02]. In the CDI group, significantly more patients required nutrition support (75.8 % and 48.5 %, respectively) [OR 3.32, 95 % CI 1.16-9.84, p = 0.02], but there was no difference in the number of patients who received parenteral nutrition. Measures of enteral feeding safety and tolerance were similar between both groups.

Nutrition therapy for critically ill patients did not appear to be negatively impacted by CDI, and provision of diet or enteral nutrition therapy appeared similarly safe and tolerated compared to those without CDI.

Refeeding syndrome (RS) is defined as the spectrum of metabolic and biochemical disorders related to rapid nutritional replenishment after a prolonged period of fasting. It is caused by an abrupt shift in electrolytes and fluid among intra- and extracellular compartments, leading to metabolic disturbances like hypophosphatemia, vitamin deficiency, and fluid overload. RS often remains underdiagnosed due to variability in definition and diagnostic criteria adopted, overlapping clinical features with other complications and low awareness among clinicians. Critically ill individuals, particularly those admitted to intensive care units (ICUs), represent a cohort with peculiar features that may heighten RS risk due to their baseline frailty, frequent undernutrition, and the metabolic stress of acute illness. However, studies specifically conducted in ICU settings have yielded conflicting results regarding incidence rates, prognostic impact, and specific risk factors. Despite these differences, all evidence consistently highlights RS as a frequent and serious complication in critically ill patients. Early detection and prevention are essential, relying on prompt nutritional assessment at ICU admission, careful monitoring of serum electrolytes before and during refeeding, and a conservative caloric approach to nutrient reintroduction, alongside supportive therapy and electrolyte supplementation if RS manifestations occur. Clinicians should be aware of the significant prevalence and potential severity of RS in critically ill patients, along with the ongoing challenges related to its early recognition, prevention, and optimal nutritional management. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on the incidence, prognostic impact, risk factors, clinical manifestations, and nutritional management of RS in critically ill patients while highlighting existing evidence gaps and key areas requiring clinical attention.

Critically ill patients often experience dysglycaemia which is strongly associated with increased morbidity and mortality. While exogenous insulin therapy is used to manage hyperglycaemia, it has been demonstrated to increase the frequency of hypoglycaemic episodes and variability in blood glucose, both of which have been shown to increase mortality. Enteral feeding may worsen glycaemic control due to its carbohydrate content. This study aims to determine if the use of a reduced carbohydrate formula improves overall glycaemic control when compared to standard care in critically ill patients with hyperglycaemia.

This is the protocol for a multicentre, prospective randomised controlled trial conducted at 7 intensive care units (ICU). One hundred and sixty patients admitted to ICU, receiving or about to receive enteral nutrition expected to continue until the day after tomorrow, who have had two consecutive blood glucose levels >10 mmol/L or have received insulin based on local protocols within the previous 24-h period, and who meet none of the exclusion criteria, will be eligible. Patients in the standard care arm will receive enteral nutrition as per usual site practice and patients in the intervention arm will receive Glucerna Select® to achieve a caloric equivalent to that prescribed or delivered prior to study recruitment. All other aspects of nutrition management remain as per routine clinical practice. The primary outcome measure is units of insulin administered per day in the ICU to a maximum of seven days post randomisation. Key secondary outcome measures include measures of glycaemic control, nutrition provision, nutrition tolerance and clinical outcomes such as infectious complications, duration of ventilation, ICU and hospital stay as well as in hospital mortality.

This study will provide data on whether the use of a reduced carbohydrate enteral nutrition formula reduces insulin administration thereby improving dysglycaemia in critically ill patients. It will also be used to refine the design of a larger multi-centre trial to definitively ascertain the impact of using reduced carbohydrate enteral formula on clinical outcomes.

Ethical approval was obtained from the local Research Ethics Committee (HREC Approval HREC/2021/QMS/74667). The trial was registered on the Clinical Trials Registry with registration number ACTRN12621000859886.

The optimal dose of enteral protein to deliver during critical illness remains uncertain. International clinical practice guidelines recommend protein targets ranging from 1.2 to 2.0 g/kg body weight/day, which is greater than the amount recommended in health. This protocol details the conduct of a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of enteral protein delivered within the international recommended guidelines (1.2-2.0 g/kg/day) compared to less than international recommended guidelines (<1.2 g/kg/day) on mortality and morbidity outcomes.

A systematic review and meta-analysis will be undertaken in accordance with the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 statement. A comprehensive literature search of studies indexed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials will be conducted. Studies will be included if they are randomised controlled trials (RCTs) enrolling adult critically ill patients comparing predominately enteral protein delivery with one arm receiving 1.2-2.0 g/kg/day protein/kg/day ('greater protein') and another arm receiving <1.2 g protein/kg/day ('lesser protein'). Two independent reviewers will perform title and full text screening for study inclusion, extract data from included studies, and assess study quality using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool. The primary outcome will be mortality at 90 days. Secondary outcomes will be clinical (infectious complications, and durations of ICU and hospital stays and mechanical ventilation), patient-centred (discharge destination, physical function and quality of life) and muscle (muscle mass, strength) outcomes.

Random-effects meta-analysis will be fitted for all outcomes, and, for the primary outcome, risk ratios will be pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis model and pooled treatment effect presented as risk ratio (95% Confidence Interval).

This systematic review and meta-analysis will compile data to determine whether outcomes are optimised with greater or lesser amounts of enteral protein delivered during critical illness.

CRD42025547923.

To review the rationale for and timing, dose, and monitoring of enteral nutrition and protein delivery in critically ill adults.

Medline searches to identify relevant studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and guidelines informing the phases of critical illness, enteral nutrition and protein doses, and monitoring enteral nutrition.

Preclinical and contemporary clinical literature informing the rationale for and timing, dose, and monitoring of enteral nutrition and protein dose in critically ill adults.

The evidence describing the rationale for and timing, dose, and monitoring of enteral nutrition and protein dose in critically ill adults is summarized.

The early delivery of enteral nutrition remains a cornerstone of therapy for critically ill adults. Historically, critical care nutrition guidelines have recommended achieving full-dose enteral nutrition within the first 72 hours of ICU admission. The rationale for delivering early enteral nutrition depends on the phase of critical illness, and providing a restrictive dose during the acute phase preserves gut integrity, supports the microbiome, and modulates immune dysregulation. Contemporary randomized controlled trials comparing enteral nutrition doses during the acute phase of critical illness have found full-dose enteral nutrition, compared with restrictive dose, and may offset the benefit from enteral feeding, causing iatrogenic stresses to the system leading to worse outcomes. Even though critically ill adults have anabolic resistance and undergo skeletal muscle proteolysis, recent trials have found that high-dose protein, compared with standard, does not improve clinical outcomes and may be harmful in certain subsets of critically ill adults.

Contemporary data support the use of restrictive dose enteral nutrition during the acute phase of critical illness. High-dose protein is not superior to lower and is associated with worse outcomes in critically ill adults with acute kidney injury and those with greater severity of illness.

Overfeeding, currently defined as providing excessive energy and nutrients beyond metabolic requirements, is a common yet often overlooked issue in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting. Understanding the factors contributing to overfeeding and implementing strategies to prevent it is essential for optimizing patient care in the ICU. Several factors contribute to overfeeding in the ICU, including inaccurate estimation of energy requirements, formulaic feeding protocols, and failure to adjust nutritional support based on individual patient needs. Prolonged overfeeding can lead to insulin resistance and hepatic dysfunction, exacerbating glycemic control, increasing the risk of infectious complications, and worsening clinical outcomes. Clinically, overfeeding has been linked to delayed weaning from mechanical ventilation, prolonged ICU stay, and increased mortality rates. Regular review and adjustment of feeding protocols, incorporating advances in enteral and parenteral nutrition strategies, are essential for improving patient outcomes. Clinicians must be proficient in interpreting metabolic data, understanding the principles of energy balance, and implementing appropriate feeding algorithms. Interdisciplinary collaboration among critical care teams, including dieticians, physicians, and nurses, is crucial for ensuring consistent and effective nutritional management. Overfeeding remains a significant concern in the ICU after discharge as well, implying further complications for patient safety and integrity. By understanding the causes, consequences, and strategies for the prevention of overfeeding, healthcare providers can optimize nutrition therapy and mitigate the risk of metabolic complications. Through ongoing education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and evidence-based practice, the ICU community can strive to deliver personalized and precise nutritional support to critically ill patients.

Introduction: Critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs) are at high risk of malnutrition, which can result in muscle atrophy, polyneuropathy, increased mortality, or prolonged hospitalizations with complications and higher costs during the recovery period. They often develop ICU-acquired weakness, exacerbated by sepsis, immobilization, and drug treatments, leading to rapid muscle mass loss and long-term complications. Studies indicate that adequate protein and calorie intake can decrease mortality and improve prognosis and recovery. However, optimal implementation remains a critical challenge. Objectives: This narrative review aims to summarize recent advances in nutritional strategies for critically ill patients. It highlights the benefits and limitations of current approaches including enteral (EN) and parenteral nutrition (PN) and examines their impact on clinical outcomes and overall mortality. Additionally, the review explores the emerging role of precision nutrition in critical care using technologies such as metabolomics and artificial intelligence (AI) to provide valuable insights into optimizing nutritional care in critically ill patients. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify recent studies, clinical guidelines, and expert consensus papers on nutritional support for ICU patients. The investigation focused on critical aspects such as the optimal timing for intervention, the route of administration, specific protein and energy targets, and technological innovations to support personalized nutrition, ensuring that each patient receives tailored support based on their unique needs. Results: Guidelines recommend initiating EN or PN nutrition within the first 48 h of admission, using indirect calorimetry (IC) to estimate energy needs, and supplementing protein up to 1.2 g/kg/day after stabilization. IC has gained importance in assessing energy needs but is still underused in the ICU. EN is preferred because it maintains intestinal integrity, reduces the risk of infections, and is recommended within the first 48 h of ICU admission. PN is used when EN is infeasible, but it increases the risk of infection. By integrating metabolomics with transcriptomic and genomic data, we can gain a deeper understanding of the effect of nutrition on cellular homeostasis, facilitating personalized treatments and enhancing the recovery of critically ill patients. Conclusions: AI is becoming increasingly important in monitoring and evaluating artificial nutrition, providing a more accurate and efficient alternative to traditional methods. AI can assist in identifying and managing malnutrition and is effective for estimating caloric and nutrient intake. AI minimizes human error, enables continuous monitoring, and integrates various data sources. The nutritional care of critically ill patients requires collaboration among specialists from diverse fields, including physicians, nutritionists, pharmacists, radiologists, IT experts, and policymakers.

Malnutrition and risk for malnutrition in critically ill patients are associated with adverse outcomes. However, the adequacy of nutrient intake and its impact on malnutrition have not been entirely determined in previous studies. Above all, this study investigates the relationship between some nutrient intake and malnutrition levels and 28-day death. The observational study was done on patients over 18 years of age in Rafsanjan Intensive Care Unit (ICU) from April 21 to October 24, 2022. Subjective global assessment (SGA), modified nutrition risk in critically Ill (mNUTRIC) Score, demographic details and intake of some nutrients were assessed. Data was analyzed with SPSS 22 software, and a p-value of 0.05 was a significant level for all analysis.118 patients were studied. Malnutrition and mNUTRIC score are linked to 28-day mortality in logistic regression analysis (OR: 3.63, 95%CI 1.48-8.91, p = 0.004 and OR: 12.69, 95%CI 4.42-36.43, p < 0.001, respectively). There was no significant difference between the intake of some nutrients and malnutrition/ risk for malnutrition. This study reveals no relevance between nutrient intake with malnutrition and risk for malnutrition. Moreover, in malnourished patients, some nutrient intake was unrelated to the 28-day death. It is suggested that future studies be done with a larger sample size.

Severe protein catabolism is a major aspect of critical illness and leads to pronounced muscle wasting and, consequently, extended intensive care unit (ICU) stay and increased mortality. The urea-to-creatinine ratio (UCR) has emerged as a promising biomarker for assessing protein catabolism in critical illness, which is currently lacking. This review aims to elucidate the role of UCR in the context of critical illness.

This scoping review adhered to the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. A comprehensive literature search was conducted on the 3rd of September 2024, across Embase, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Library to identify studies related to (1) critically ill adult patients and (2) reporting at least a single UCR value. A meta-analysis was conducted for ≥ 5 studies with identical outcome parameters.

Out of 1,450 studies retrieved, 47 were included in this review, focusing on UCR's relation to protein catabolism and persistent critical illness (10 studies), mortality (16 studies), dietary protein interventions (2 studies), and other outcomes (19 studies), such as delirium, and neurological and cardiac adverse events. UCR is inversely correlated to muscle cross-sectional area over time and associated to length of ICU stay, emphasising its potential role in identifying patients with ongoing protein catabolism. A UCR (BUN-to-creatinine in mg/dL) of ≥ 20 (equivalent to a urea-to-creatinine in mmol/L of approximately 80) upon ICU admission, in comparison with a value < 20, was associated with a relative risk of 1.60 (95% CI 1.27-2.00) and an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.29 (95% CI 0.89-1.86) for in-hospital mortality.

UCR elevations during critical illness potentially indicate muscle protein catabolism and the progression to persistent critical illness, and high levels at ICU admission could be associated with mortality. UCR increments during ICU stay may also indicate excessive exogenous dietary protein intake, overwhelming the body's ability to use it for whole-body or muscle protein synthesis. Dehydration, gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney and liver dysfunction, and renal replacement therapy may also influence UCR and are considered potential pitfalls when assessing catabolic phases of critical illness by UCR. Patient group-specific cut-off values are warranted to ensure its validity and application in clinical practice.

Enteral nutrition is widely recommended in intensive care units, but its implementation is accompanied by some problems.

This study aimed to develop a current-evidence-based, operable and repeatable ultrasound-guided enteral nutrition (EN) programme for critically ill patients.

First, based on a literature review, we integrated guidelines, expert consensus, systematic review and clinical experimental studies on critically ill patients. Subsequently, after careful evaluation and selection of relevant EN management data, we formulated a preliminary draft of an ultrasound-guided EN protocol for critically ill patients. Based on feedback from Delphi experts, the protocol was revised, and the final version of the programme was constructed.

After two rounds of consultation, the expert opinions reached a consensus. The expert positive coefficient was 1.00, and the expert authority coefficient was 0.935. After the second round of consultation, the coefficient of variation for the importance score ranged from 0.04 to 0.19, and that for the feasibility score ranged from 0.04 to 0.21. The difference in Kendall harmony coefficients was statistically significant (p < .05). The final programme comprised four Level I, 15 Level II and 40 Level III projects.

The EN protocol for critically ill patients established in this study is comprehensive and feasible and can provide guidance for clinical practice.

This study adopted the Delphi method to develop an ultrasound-guided EN programme for critically ill patients, providing a new protocol by which critical care nurses can implement EN. This protocol provides a reliable and comprehensive basis for ensuring the quality and safety of EN management in critically ill patients in the future.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract that significantly impacts nutritional status. Malnutrition is a frequent complication, resulting from reduced nutrient intake, malabsorption, and increased metabolic demands due to chronic inflammation. A comprehensive nutritional assessment encompassing anthropometric, biochemical, and dietary evaluations is crucial for informing personalized interventions. Several nutritional approaches have been explored to modulate inflammation and the gut microbiota, yielding promising results. The Mediterranean, anti-inflammatory, and low-FODMAP diets have shown potential benefits in symptom control. In contrast, diets high in ultra-processed foods and saturated fats are associated with worsened disease activity. Additionally, stool consistency, assessed using the Bristol Stool Scale, serves as a practical indicator for dietary adjustments, helping to regulate fiber intake and hydration strategies. When dietary modifications alone are insufficient, nutritional support becomes a critical component of IBD management. Enteral nutrition (EN) is preferred whenever possible because it maintains gut integrity and modulates immune responses. It has demonstrated efficacy in reducing postoperative complications and improving disease control. In cases where EN is not feasible, such as in intestinal obstruction, severe malabsorption, or high-output fistulas, parenteral nutrition (PN) is required. The choice between peripheral and central administration depends on treatment duration and osmolarity considerations. Despite growing evidence supporting nutritional interventions, further research is needed to establish standardized guidelines that optimize dietary and nutritional support strategies in managing IBD.

Better understanding the impact of dietetic services on nutrition practices seems required as it may represent an opportunity for optimization in post-cardiac surgery patients. The present study aims to evaluate and compare nutrition practices and clinical outcomes in post-cardiac surgery intensive care unit (ICU) patients with and without dietetic services.

This is a secondary analysis of a multinational prospective observational study in patients (n = 237) with >72 h of post-cardiac surgical ICU stay with and without dietetic services describing nutrition practices and outcomes up to 12 days after ICU admission.

Dietetic services were available in 61.5% (8 of 13) ICUs (1.0 ± 0.5 full-time equivalents/10 beds). Enteral nutrition was initiated <48 h from ICU admission in 49.6% and 59.1% of patients at sites with vs without dietetic services, respectively. Parenteral nutrition was started within 118.3 ± 56.5 and 131.5 ± 69.2 h at sites with vs without dietetic services, respectively. Energy target (23.7 ± 4.8 vs 24.6 ± 4.8 kcal/kg body weight/day) and actual supply (10.5 ± 6.7 vs 10.3 ± 6.2 kcal/kg body weight/day) did not differ between the groups. Protein targets (1.4 ± 0.4 vs 1.1 ± 1.3 g/kg body weight/day) and actual protein provision (0.6 ± 0.4 vs 0.4 ± 0.3 g/kg body weight/day) were higher in patients at sites with vs without dietetic services.

Improvements in medical nutrition therapy practices in patients after cardiac surgery are needed in ICUs with and without dietetic services. Appropriately staffed dietetic services as essential members of the medical care team may be crucial to transfer knowledge on adequate medical nutrition therapy strategies into practice.

Predictive equations often inaccurately estimate energy needs in critically ill patients. This study evaluated the level of agreement between resting energy expenditure using 12 and 25 kcal/kg as recommended by the 2021 American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition critical care guidelines for nutrition support and energy expenditure measured by indirect calorimetry in patients in the intensive care unit.

An agreement study was conducted on mechanically ventilated adults who had a documented measured energy expenditure within 10 days of intensive care unit admission. Agreement was assessed using Bland-Altman plots and Wilcoxon signed rank tests. A subgroup analysis was performed for patients with a body mass index of ≥30 kg/m² using actual body weight, adjusted body weight, and ideal body weight. Correlations between measured energy expenditure and patient characteristics were also explored.

Fifty-eight patients were included and were a median age of 64 years, 63.8% male, and a median body mass index of 28.0 kg/m2. The 12 kcal/kg and 25 kcal/kg differed significantly from measured energy expenditure (P < 0.001). Bland-Altman plots showed mean biases of -644.6 kcal/day for 12 kcal/kg and 406.5 kcal/day for 25 kcal/kg. In the body mass index ≥30 kg/m² subgroup (n = 22), 12 kcal/kg underestimated measured energy expenditure across all weights, and 25 kcal/kg was more accurate when using ideal or adjusted body weights.

Predicted energy expenditure using 12 kcal/kg and 25 kcal/kg based on the 2021 American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition critical care guidelines for nutrition support had poor agreement with measured energy expenditure in mechanically ventilated patients.

Patients admitted to the ICU often experience gastrointestinal complications. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have become increasingly prevalent in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity, and there is evidence that their use may be associated with an increased risk of clinically significant gastrointestinal events. However, their impact on critically ill patients admitted to the medical ICU is unknown.

This study examined whether pre-ICU use of GLP-1RAs was associated with increased incidence of gastrointestinal complications and hospitalization outcomes.

Multicenter, retrospective cohort study of critically ill patients admitted to academic and community hospitals of Mayo Clinic Health System from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2023. Patients who were admitted to surgical ICUs and those who were exposed to GLP-1RA medications before but did not have an active prescription within 30 days of admission were excluded. Patients exposed to GLP-1RA were matched with those nonexposed in a 1:1 fashion based on demographic factors, factors affecting gastrointestinal motility, overall illness burden, and clinical acuity.

Outcomes of interest were the development of gastrointestinal dysfunction, ICU- and hospital-free days, and mortality.

A total of 31,327 patients with diabetes or obesity were identified of whom these, 631 were exposed to GLP-1RA before admission. In the matched cohort of 1262 patients, baseline variables were evenly distributed between the two groups. There were no significant differences in the odds of developing nausea/vomiting, constipation, ileus, obstruction, impaction, or aspiration pneumonia between the GLP-1RA exposed and unexposed groups. Similarly, ICU and hospital mortality rates were comparable across the two groups. However, GLP-1RA exposed patients had significantly more hospital-free days compared with unexposed patients (estimate, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.38-2.0; p = 0.004).

GLP-1RA exposure was not associated with increased odds of clinically significant gastrointestinal complications in nonsurgical critically ill patients. Increased hospital-free days observed among GLP-1RA exposed patients requires further study.

Sarcopenia and frailty are common conditions, associated with worse clinical outcomes during critical illness. Recent studies on sarcopenia and frailty in ICU patients are presented in this review, aiming to identify accurate diagnostic tools, investigate the effects on clinical and functional outcomes, and propose possible effective interventions.

The recent change of the sarcopenia definition underlines the importance of muscle strength over mass, this is however challenging to assess in ICU patients. There is currently no unified sarcopenia definition, nor standard frailty assessment tool; Clinical Frailty Scale is most frequently used in the ICU. Meta-analyses show worse clinical and functional outcomes for frail as well as sarcopenic patients admitted to the ICU, regardless of admission diagnosis. Frailty is a dynamic condition, worsening in severity by the time of hospital discharge, but showing improvement by 6 months post-ICU. Therapeutic interventions for frailty and sarcopenia remain limited. Although mobilization strategies show promise in improving functional and cognitive outcomes, inconsistent outcomes are reported. Heterogeneity in definitions, patient populations, and care practices challenge interpretation and comparison of study results and recognition of beneficial interventions. This highlights the need for more research.

The importance of preexisting sarcopenia and frailty is recognized in ICU patients and associated with worse clinical outcomes. Multidimensional interventions are most promising, including patient-tailored mobilization and nutrition.

Background: Critical illness induces profound metabolic alterations, characterized by a hypermetabolic state, insulin resistance, protein catabolism, and gut barrier dysfunction, which contribute to increased morbidity and mortality. Emerging evidence highlights the role of the gut microbiome and its metabolites in modulating systemic inflammation and immune responses during critical illness. This narrative review explores the metabolic evolution of critically ill patients, the impact of gut dysbiosis on disease progression, and the potential role of nutrition in modulating metabolism and improving patient outcomes. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed and Google Scholar for articles published up to February 2025. Search terms included "critical illness", "metabolism", "gut microbiota", "nutrition", and related keywords. Articles published in English addressing metabolic alterations, microbiome changes, and nutritional strategies in critically ill patients were included. After screening for eligibility, relevant articles were synthesized to outline current knowledge and identify gaps. Results: Metabolic changes in critical illness progress through distinct phases, from catabolism-driven hypermetabolism to gradual recovery. Gut dysbiosis, characterized by a loss of microbial diversity and increased gut permeability, contributes to systemic inflammation and organ dysfunction. Nutritional strategies, including enteral nutrition, probiotics, prebiotics, and metabolomics-driven interventions, may help restore microbial balance, preserve gut barrier integrity, and modulate immune and metabolic responses. Future nutrition therapy should focus on metabolic modulation rather than solely addressing nutrient deficits. Conclusions: Advances in gut microbiome research and metabolomics offer new avenues for personalized nutrition strategies tailored to the metabolic demands of critically ill patients. Integrating these approaches may improve clinical and functional recovery while mitigating the long-term consequences of critical illness.

Levodopa is competitively inhibited by amino acids for absorption across the intestinal wall and blood-brain barrier. An acute withdrawal of levodopa increases the risk of Parkinsonism-hyperpyrexia syndrome, a life-threatening condition characterized by muscular rigidity, mental status changes, hyperthermia, and autonomic instability. This report discusses the case of a patient with Parkinson's disease who was critically ill who developed Parkinsonism-hyperpyrexia syndrome while receiving enteral and parenteral nutrition support. Clinicians should be aware of this potential drug-nutrient interaction when prescribing nutrition support to patients taking levodopa.

Consumers of home parenteral nutrition (HPN) are susceptible to dysglycemia. The aim was to characterize 24-h glucose profiles of HPN consumers using continuous glucose monitors (CGM) and to identify factors that influence glucose.

Glucose profiles of 20 adults with short bowel syndrome (SBS) without diabetes were assessed using the Freestyle Libre Pro CGM. Measures included mean 24-h glucose, coefficient of variation (%), % time in range (TIR 70-140 mg/dL), among others. HPN parameters and lifestyle behaviors were obtained from self-reports and validated surveys. Linear mixed-effects models were used to test associations with glycemic measures adjusted for age, sex, and BMI. Significance was considered at P < 0.05.

Participants (77% female, age = 52 years, BMI = 21.4 kg/m², 95% white) had a 24-h mean and CV for glucose of 94.69 (8.96) mg/dL and 20.27%, respectively, and a mean TIR of 87.73%. Among non-daily HPN-dependent patients, the mean glucose and TIR were higher on days receiving HPN. Tapering HPN was associated with -6.882 (95% confidence interval = -12.436, -1.329) % lower CV, and higher HPN dextrose content per gram was associated with 0.039 (95% confidence interval = 0.008, 0.07) % higher CV. Smoking, more depressive symptoms, and higher insomnia severity showed associations with glucose levels and variability.

Metabolically stable HPN adult consumers have 24-h glucose measures comparable to healthy adults yet are notable for more time spent below range. The glucose profiles are influenced by HPN parameters such as tapering and dextrose and behaviors including smoking, depressive symptoms, and insomnia.

Survivors of critical illness experience significant morbidity, reduced physiologic reserve, and long-term complications that negatively impact quality of life. Although rehabilitative treatments are beneficial during early recovery, there is limited evidence regarding effective multimodal rehabilitation, nutrition, and anabolic nutrient/agent strategies for improving long-term outcomes. This review discusses novel personalized rehabilitation, nutrition, and anabolic nutrient/agent (ie, creatine, β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate, testosterone) approaches that allow for precise exercise and nutrition prescription and have potential to improve patient care, address continued medical needs, and optimize long-term recovery. Continued research is needed to further evaluate effectiveness and implementation of these strategies throughout the continuum of care.

Timely and adequate nutrition support in critical care is necessary to prevent metabolic deterioration and preserve lean body mass. However, providing enteral nutrition during prone ventilation carries certain risks. The potential for gastrointestinal intolerance and ventilator-associated pneumonia is a concern in this context. Furthermore, healthcare providers are often hesitant to start or continue enteral nutrition for patients in prone ventilation due to fears of gastrointestinal complications. Here we describe a case involving a 53-year-old male patient admitted to the critical care unit, diagnosed with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), requiring mechanical ventilation and multiple rounds of prone ventilation. Enteral feeding was initiated and increased to a maximum rate of 65 ml/hour, allowing the patient to meet his energy and protein needs while in prone ventilation. The feeding rate was well tolerated, with no adverse effects reported. Complete nutritional requirements could be satisfied even amid the demands of multiple prone ventilation sessions in a critically ill patient.

Indirect calorimetry is recommended for directing energy provision in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, limited reports exist of measured energy expenditure according to the phases of critical illness in large cohorts of patients during ICU admission. This study aimed to analyze measured energy expenditure overall in adult patients who were critically ill and across the different phases of critical illness.

Indirect calorimetry measurements completed at a mixed ICU between January 2010 and July 2019 were eligible. Measured energy expenditure was analyzed and reported as kcal/day and kcal/kg/day overall, as the percentage increase above predicted basal metabolic rate and according to the phases of critical illness; acute early (day 1-2), acute late (day 3-7) and recovery (>7 days) phases using mixed effects linear modelling.

There were 629 patients with 863 measurements included; age mean (standard deviation) 48 (18) years, 68% male and 269 (43%) with a traumatic brain injury. Measured energy expenditure overall was 2263 (626) kcal/day (30 (7) kcal/kg/day), which corresponded to a median [interquartile range] of 135 [117-155] % increase above predicted basal metabolic rate. In patients with repeat measurements (n = 158), measured energy expenditure (mean ± standard error) increased over time; 27 ± 0.5 kcal/kg/day in the early acute, 30 ± 0.4 kcal/kg/day in the late acute, and 31 ± 0.4 kcal/kg/day in the recovery phases of critical illness (P < 0.001).

In a large cohort of ICU patients, measured energy expenditure was 135% above the basal metabolic rate and increased from the early acute to the late acute and recovery phases of critical illness.

Determining the optimal protein intake for intensive care unit (ICU) and post-ICU patients is a multifaceted challenge. Firstly, it is essential to avoid both underdosing (<1.0 g/kg) and overdosing (>1.6 g/kg) of actual protein intake. Secondly, the actual protein intake may deviate from the prescribed amount. Thirdly, phenotyping and endotyping are becoming increasingly crucial in tailoring protein targets. Additionally, a gradual increase in protein intake is essential during the first 4 to 5 days of ICU stay. Furthermore, no established protein targets exist for post-ICU patients, indicating the need for nutritional intervention research to identify optimal protein intake strategies.

Diarrhea, the most common complication for patients during enteral nut. rition, poses a range of risks and care burdens. Medical staff are aware of the importance of proactively preventing and managing enteral nutrition-related diarrhea. However, clinical prevention and management methods are not standardized, and the scientific basis and effectiveness of these methods need to be further verified.

This project aimed to promote evidence-based practices for the prevention and management of enteral nutrition-related diarrhea among adult inpatients in a public tertiary hospital in China.

This project was guided by the JBI Evidence Implementation Framework and used the JBI Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System (PACES) and the JBI Getting Research into Practice (GRiP) tools. Twelve audit criteria were developed to conduct a baseline audit to measure compliance with best practices. A barrier analysis was conducted, and strategies were implemented to overcome the barriers. The project was finalized with a follow-up audit to determine any changes in compliance with best practices.

The overall compliance rate for the audit criteria increased from 27.37% at baseline to 89.62% in the follow-up audit, with six criteria achieving a compliance rate of 100%.

The implementation of evidence-based practices can effectively narrow the gap between current practice and best practice. This project improved the ability of medical staff to prevent and manage enteral nutrition-related diarrhea, as well as promoting evidence-based practice in the hospital.

http://links.lww.com/IJEBH/A168.

Nutrition therapy is a complex intervention with several underlying considerations that may influence effectiveness. Considerations include the mechanism of action of the intervention and the patient phenotype, including sex, ethnicity, body composition, and the patients' nutritional and inflammatory status. Energy and protein targets are elements of nutrition therapy that may be particularly influenced by individual patient factors. Biomarkers may provide a useful tool to monitor and individualize nutrition therapy in the future. The considerations mentioned, with many yet to be studied, highlight the rationale for more individualized interventions moving away from a 'one-size-fits-all' approach.

The intensive care unit (ICU) environment is one of the most challenging for skeletal muscle health. Atrophy associated with clinical care is distinct from that seen with inactivity or immobilization in the absence of disease and is exacerbated by aging. The substantial muscle loss in the ICU is likely due to the presence of inflammation, elevated proteolysis, bedrest, and undernutrition. Skeletal muscle parameters at admission are predictive of mortality and other clinically important outcomes. Treatment goals to mitigate muscle loss are early mobilization and adequate nutrient supply, especially protein, using an individualized approach to support skeletal muscle maintenance and recovery.

The aim to avoid underfeeding has resulted in relative overfeeding of patients in the early phase of critical illness, worsening instead of improving outcomes. Negative randomised controlled trials have triggered mechanistic studies to investigate possible mechanisms explaining harm, allowing more scientific interpretation of many unexpected results during the last decades. Whereas individualized evidence-based approach to nutrition is still only rarely available, discussing and understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms should assist in decision-making in clinical practice. Further exploration of mechanisms of harm and benefit, as well as development of new technologies are needed to better plan future nutrition studies.

There is a general paucity of data on energy needs during critical illness and the subsequent hospital course, particularly in cardiothoracic surgical patients. We measured resting energy expenditure (mREE) via indirect calorimetry on patients post-cardiothoracic surgery and conducted repeat measures throughout hospitalization to evaluate trends and begin to describe metabolic needs in this patient population.

Prospective descriptive cohort study design. Patients status post cardiothoracic surgery and admitted to the intensive care unit were enrolled, and indirect calorimetry measurements were obtained within 72 h post-operative and every 5-7 days thereafter.

A total of 11 patients (4 with obesity and 7 without obesity) and 35 indirect calorimetry measurements were included in the analysis. Overall mean resting energy expenditure was 1598 kcals/day [859-2506], and 21 kcal/kg [13.0-37.4]. Overall, the patients with obesity had higher resting energy expenditure than those without obesity in kcals/day (1930 vs. 1425, respectively). This trend continued regardless of the patient being in the intensive care unit (obese 1845 kcals/day vs. non-obese 1244 kcals/day) or the step-down unit (obese 2099 kcals/day vs. 1624 kcals/day). Additionally, measurements on the ventilator were lower than those off the ventilator (1310 kcals vs. 1769 kcals, respectively). Inter-patient variability in mREE was diverse, with some energy needs remaining stable throughout hospitalization while others varied greatly.

Measured resting energy expenditure in post-cardiothoracic surgical patients is highly variable. Ventilator and unit status also significantly influenced energy needs, with distinct differences between patients with obesity and those without.

Nutrition therapy is important in the management of critically ill patients and is continuously evolving as new evidence emerges. The Japanese Critical Care Nutrition Guideline 2024 (JCCNG 2024) is specific to Japan and is the latest set of clinical practice guidelines for nutrition therapy in critical care that was revised from JCCNG 2016 by the Japanese Society of Intensive Care Medicine. An English version of these guidelines was created based on the contents of the original Japanese version. These guidelines were developed to help health care providers understand and provide nutrition therapy that will improve the outcomes of children and adults admitted to intensive care units or requiring intensive care, regardless of the disease. The intended users of these guidelines are all healthcare professionals involved in intensive care, including those who are not familiar with nutrition therapy. JCCNG 2024 consists of 37 clinical questions and 24 recommendations, covering immunomodulation therapy, nutrition therapy for special conditions, and nutrition therapy for children. These guidelines were developed in accordance with the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system by experts from various healthcare professionals related to nutrition therapy and/or critical care. All GRADE-based recommendations, good practice statements (GPS), future research questions, and answers to background questions were finalized by consensus using the modified Delphi method. Strong recommendations for adults include early enteral nutrition (EN) within 48 h and the provision of pre/synbiotics. Weak recommendations for adults include the use of a nutrition protocol, EN rather than parenteral nutrition, the provision of higher protein doses, post-pyloric EN, continuous EN, omega-3 fatty acid-enriched EN, the provision of probiotics, and indirect calorimetry use. Weak recommendations for children include early EN within 48 h, bolus EN, and energy/protein-dense EN formulas. A nutritional assessment is recommended by GPS for both adults and children. JCCNG 2024 will be disseminated through educational activities mainly by the JCCNG Committee at various scientific meetings and seminars. Since studies on nutritional treatment for critically ill patients are being reported worldwide, these guidelines will be revised in 4 to 6 years. We hope that these guidelines will be used in clinical practice for critically ill patients and in future research.

Emergent total pneumonectomy is a rare surgical intervention for patients with severe chest trauma. Patients who survive the immediate postoperative period experience prolonged, complex hospitalizations. The purpose of this case study is to review the nutrition care provided to a patient who survived total pneumonectomy and the supporting evidence. John Doe (JD) is a man aged 28 years who presented to a level I trauma center with penetrating chest trauma. He required multiple operative interventions, resulting in a partial right and total left pneumonectomy. JD's hospitalization was complicated by prolonged use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). His surgical course and gastric feeding intolerance hampered enteral nutrition adequacy, and parenteral nutrition support was initiated on hospital day 17. Tolerance to enteral nutrition improved after jejunal access was obtained, and the patient transitioned to total enteral nutrition support. As a result of inflammatory metabolic changes and nutrition delivery challenges for the first 2 weeks of hospitalization, JD developed malnutrition. His nutrition care was further complicated by copper and carnitine deficiencies, which have been described in patients requiring ECMO and CRRT. Patients who require emergent total pneumonectomy following traumatic chest injuries will likely require complex hospital care, including extracorporeal organ support. These patients present unique nutrition challenges; however, given the relative infrequency of the intervention, there is limited research to guide clinical practice. Additional research on nutrition interventions in this population is warranted.

The gut has long been hypothesized to be the "motor" of critical illness, propagating inflammation and playing a key role in multiple organ dysfunction. However, the exact mechanisms through which impaired gut integrity potentially contribute to worsened clinical outcome remain to be elucidated. Critical elements of gut dysregulation including intestinal hyperpermeability and a perturbed microbiome are now recognized as potential therapeutic targets in critical care.

The gut is a finely tuned ecosystem comprising ~ 40 trillion microorganisms, a single cell layer intestinal epithelia that separates the host from the microbiome and its products, and the mucosal immune system that actively communicates in a bidirectional manner. Under basal conditions, these elements cooperate to maintain a finely balanced homeostasis benefitting both the host and its internal microbial community. Tight junctions between adjacent epithelial cells selectively transport essential molecules while preventing translocation of pathogens. However, critical illness disrupts gut barrier function leading to increased gut permeability, epithelial apoptosis, and immune activation. This disruption is further exacerbated by a shift in the microbiome toward a "pathobiome" dominated by pathogenic microbes with increased expression of virulence factors, which intensifies systemic inflammation and accelerates organ dysfunction. Research has highlighted several potential therapeutic targets to restore gut integrity in the host, including the regulation of epithelial cell function, modulation of tight junction proteins, and inhibition of epithelial apoptosis. Additionally, microbiome-targeted therapies, such as prebiotics, probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and selective decontamination of the digestive tract have also been extensively investigated to promote restoration of gut homeostasis in critically ill patients. Future research is needed to validate the potential efficacy of these interventions in clinical settings and to determine if the gut can be targeted in an individualized fashion.

Increased gut permeability and a disrupted microbiome are common in critical illness, potentially driving dysregulated systemic inflammation and organ dysfunction. Therapeutic strategies to modulate gut permeability and restore the composition of microbiome hold promise as novel treatments for critically ill patients.

This review is both timely and relevant as the open abdomen approach to manage injury, emergency general surgery (EGS) conditions, as well as secondary intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and the abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) remain prevalent throughout ICUs.

IAH is not limited to those with injury or EGS conditions, as it is increasingly recognized following cardiac surgery as well as cardiac transplantation. IAH monitoring techniques benefit from technological advances including noninvasive devices. Time to primary fascial closure (PFC) is a key determinant of patient-centered outcomes, with worse outcomes in those with delayed or failed closure attempts. Visceral edema avoidance or mitigation techniques remain controversial. Nutrition support and its impact on the gastrointestinal microbiome appear to influence infection risk and anastomotic integrity. Team-based approaches to successful as well as failed open abdomen management help optimize outcomes.

These findings bear broad implications for intensive care medicine clinicians who care for open abdomen patients, as they address resuscitation, intra-abdominal pressure monitoring, and nutrition support all of which influence the likelihood of achieving PFC - a key goal regardless of whether the abdomen was initially left open after injury, EGS, or intestinal ischemia management.

Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) is a key component of treatment in intensive care units (ICU) and plays a crucial role in the prognosis of critically ill patients. An individualized nutrition strategy is essential to meet the specific needs of critically ill patients and to minimize potential complications.Recommendations for MNT differ between the guidelines of the German Society for Nutritional Medicine (DGEM), the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN), and the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (A.S.P.E.N.), making its implementation in clinical practice challenging. Therefore, the first part of this article provides a pragmatic summary of the current recommendations for everyday clinical practice. The second part focuses on recent data and how these might influence current paradigms of MNT for critically ill patients, with particular emphasis on phase-appropriate macronutrient delivery and combinations of nutrition with other interventions.

The Section Metabolism and Nutrition of the German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (DIVI) recently published two position papers specifying some aspects of the guideline on clinical nutrition for critically ill patients published by the German Society for Nutritional Medicine in 2018. This article provides a condensed overview for clinical practice; some key aspects of these position papers are presented focussing on the monitoring of energy expenditure and macronutrient administration.

As a unique structured lipid, medium- and long-chain triacylglycerol (MLCT) is characterized by the combination of medium- and long-chain fatty acids in a single triacylglycerol molecule. In recent years, MLCT, as a nutritional lipid, has gradually emerged as a research hot topic in the fields of food science and nutrition. This paper innovatively provides a comprehensive review of the current application status and development prospects of MLCT in nutritional support. First, the basic principles defining characteristics and selection basis of both enteral and parenteral nutrition are analyzed, elucidating the differences between the two modalities in terms of nutrient delivery pathway, absorption mechanisms, and physiological effects. Subsequently, the natural sources and artificial synthetic pathways of MLCT along with its metabolic behavior in vivo are elaborated. On this basis, the latest research advancements in the application of MLCT in both nutritional models are reviewed, with a particular emphasis on current research hotspots. Finally, the challenges encountered in the practical application of MLCT are discussed, and the future trajectory of MLCT as a functional lipid is predicted. In particular, the innovative potential of MLCT in functional foods, food for special medical purposes, personalized nutrition, and other aspects is emphasized, which provides beneficial ideas and directions for further research and industrial applications of MLCT.

Malnutrition due to interruption of enteral nutrition remains a prevalent issue in the intensive care unit (ICU).

This study aimed to determine the frequency and causes of enteral nutrition interruption (ENI)and its impact on implementing enteral nutrition.

This is a secondary analysis of a multicentre, cluster-randomized controlled trial (N = 2772). This secondary analysis included patients in the ICU for at least 72 h and receiving total enteral nutrition. The causes of ENI were defined as (1) feeding intolerance, (2) diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and (3) others. Multiple linear regression analyses investigated the association between ENI and nutrition intake.

A total of 1331 patients were included for analysis. Approximately 18.63% of the patients experienced at least one episode of ENI. The main cause of ENI was diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Energy intake was 17.54 ± 6.85 versus 16.64 ± 7.06 (p = .065) among patients with and without ENI, and the protein intake was 0.69 ± 0.27 versus 0.64 ± 0.27 (p = .016). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that ENI was significantly associated with diminishing energy and protein intake (B = -1.012, 95% CI -1.857 to -0.167, p = .019; B = -0.050, 95% CI -0.083 to -0.017, p = .003, respectively).

Based on this multicentre study about ENI, the incidence of interruptions in enteral nutrition was 18.6%, with diagnostic and therapeutic procedures being the leading causes. The occurrence of interruptions in the delivery of enteral nutrition leads to a reduction in the nutritional intake of critically ill patients.

Critical care nurses should establish comprehensive nutrition support protocols and strengthen the training of department nurses, equipping them with the skills to effectively prevent and manage ENI. This is essential for actively achieving feeding goals and improving the outcomes of ICU patients.

The market offers a wide range of medical nutrition formulations for oral, enteral and parenteral nutrition of critically ill patients. In addition to so-called "standard" nutrition formulations, which are available in different variants and already cover a wide range of products, there are also specialized nutrition formulations that have been developed specifically for certain diseases.According to current evidence, normocaloric "standard" nutrition formulations are the first choice. However, in certain cases, depending on the clinical picture, phase of illness and individual tolerance, energy-dense or protein-rich variants as well as fiber-containing or fiber-free options may also be useful. These products enable individualized disease- and phase-specific nutrition therapy in clinical practice.However, the evidence for the benefits of specialized nutrition formulations that are tailored to specific metabolic changes and particular needs of individual clinical pictures is currently limited. Such specialized products should therefore only be used in individual cases and under consideration of medical and therapeutic conditions: Special nutrition formulations for patients with diabetes mellitus and kidney disease can simplify metabolic control and the practice of nutritional therapy. By carrying out close metabolic monitoring, special nutrition formulations can be used individually in these patients. However, specialized nutrition formulations for patients with liver or lung disease are not recommended based on current evidence and guidelines.While the evidence for the use of special substrates in pharmacological doses is still limited, they are an integral part of clinical nutrition products in physiological doses.Particular attention should be paid to complete protein/amino acid patterns (dispensable, indispensable and conditionally indispensable amino acids) and mixed lipid emulsions (soy, olive, fish oil, medium-chain triglycerides) in parenteral nutrition products.

Recent multicenter trials suggest that higher protein delivery may result in worse outcomes in critically ill patients, but uncertainty remains. An updated Bayesian meta-analysis of recent evidence was conducted to estimate the probabilities of beneficial and harmful treatment effects.

An updated systematic search was performed in three databases until September 4, 2024. The study adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines and the protocol was preregistered in PROSPERO (CRD42024546387).

Randomized controlled trials that studied adult critically ill patients comparing protein doses delivered enterally and/or parenterally with similar energy delivery between groups were included.

Data extraction was performed by two authors independently, using a predefined worksheet. The primary outcome was mortality. Posterior probabilities of any benefit (relative risk [RR] < 1.00) or harm (RR > 1.00) and other important beneficial and harmful effect size thresholds were estimated. Risk of bias assessment was performed using the risk of bias 2.0 tool. All analyses were performed using a Bayesian hierarchical random-effects models, under vague priors.

Twenty-two randomized trials ( n = 4164 patients) were included. The mean protein delivery in the higher and lower protein groups was 1.5 ± 0.6 vs. 0.9 ± 0.4 g/kg/d. The median RR for mortality was 1.01 (95% credible interval, 0.84-1.16). The posterior probability of any mortality benefit from higher protein delivery was 43.6%, while the probability of any harm was 56.4%. The probabilities of a 1% (RR < 0.99) and 5% (RR < 0.95) mortality reduction by higher protein delivery were 38.7% and 22.9%, respectively. Conversely, the probabilities of a 1% (RR > 1.01) and 5% (RR > 1.05) mortality increase were 51.5% and 32.4%, respectively.

There is a considerable probability of an increased mortality risk with higher protein delivery in critically ill patients, although a clinically beneficial effect cannot be completely eliminated based on the current data.

A pragmatic trial and its secondary analyses have demonstrated that nutritional care not only reduces complications but also significantly improves survival in medical patients at risk of malnutrition. In contrast, for critically ill patients comparable evidence is scarce. Consequently, many propositions for refining the research agenda and study design in the field of critical care nutrition have already been made. The aim of this paper is to elucidate further critical problems in nutritional care.

Critical appraisal of the literature from the past 70 years.

We identified five key problems: 1. The immunologic background of catabolism 2. The energy goal during the acute phase 3. The quantification of endogenous substrate production 4. The incorporation of clinical and biological data into the study design, and 5. The energy goal and cardiopulmonary exercise testing during the recovery phase.

The solution of these problems should supplement the propositions made by other authors and is essential to improving nutrition during and after critical care.

To share current concepts and provide an overview of the contextual issues and nutrition practices in critically ill patients in resource-limited settings (RLSs)/low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Most of the world's population reside in these settings which also carries the greatest burden of critical illness.

There is a paucity of evidence on nutrition practice in critically ill patients in RLSs and international guidelines are largely based on evidence derived from high-income countries (HICs). While some recommendations are adaptable to RLSs, many are not feasible or directly transferable. Despite the challenges that may prevail, pragmatic solutions can address many of the difficulties to enhance nutrition practice and improve patient outcomes.

This review provides a contemporary synopsis of nutrition practice in critically ill patients in RLSs covering the relevance of optimal nutrition, gives insights into relevant contextual issues and challenges in RLSs, evaluates recent scientific evidence and available literature pertinent to critically ill patients in RLSs, addresses nutrition guidelines, discusses some pragmatic options and solutions, deals with relevant and important complications that may arise, and offers suggestions and future considerations to enhance nutrition practice in critically ill patients in these settings.

Patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) commonly exhibit a poor mental health status and can easily develop aspiration pneumonia. Thus, early proper nutrition through oral or tube feeding is difficult to achieve, leading to malnutrition. However, evidence regarding early nutritional support in the intensive care unit (ICU) is lacking. We aimed to assess the effect of early nutrition in patients with TBI admitted to the ICU.

Data of adult patients with TBI admitted to the trauma ICU of a regional trauma center in Korea between 2022 and 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Those with ICU stay <7 days, younger than 18 years, and with underlying diseases that could alter baseline metabolism, were excluded. Nutritional support on day 4 of ICU admission was measured. The patients were classified into mortality and survival groups, and risk factors for mortality were evaluated. Subgroup analyses were performed based on TBI severity.

Overall, 864 patients were diagnosed with acute TBI, of whom 227 were included in this study. The mortality rate in the study population was 15% (n=34). Those in the survival group were younger, had longer hospital stays, had a higher initial Glasglow coma scale (GCS) score, and had a higher intake of calorie supplements than those in the mortality group. In a subgroup analysis of patients with non-severe TBI (GCS >8), total calorie intake (751.4 vs. 434.2 kcal, p=0.029), total protein intake (37.5 vs. 22.1 g, p=0.045), and ratio of supplied to target calories (0.49 vs. 0.30, p=0.047) were higher in the survival group than in the mortality group. Logistic regression analysis revealed that calorie intake (B=-0.002, p=0.040) and initial hemoglobin level (B=-0.394, p=0.005) were risk factors for mortality in patients with non-severe TBI.

More calories were supplied to the survival group than the mortality group among patients with TBI. Additionally, logistic regression analysis showed that increased calorie supply was associated with reduced mortality in patients with non-severe TBI. The mortality group had low protein intake; however, this did not emerge as a risk factor for mortality. Early sufficient nutritional support improves the prognosis of patients with TBI.