Optimal timing, dose and route of early nutrition therapy in critical illness and shock: the quest for the Holy Grail

Malnutrition in cardiac and critical illness is associated with a compromised clinical outcome. The aim of nutrition therapy is to prevent these complications and particularly to attenuate lean tissue wasting and the loss of muscle force and of physical function. During the last decade, several well-powered randomized controlled nutrition trials have been performed. Their results challenge the existing nutrition practices in critically ill patients. Enhancing the nutritional intake and the administration of specialized formulations failed to evoke clinical benefit. Some interventions even provoked an increased mortality or a delayed recovery. These unexpected new findings might be, in part, caused by an important leap forward in the methodological quality in the recent trials. Perhaps reversing early catabolism in the critically ill patient by nutrition or anabolic interventions is impossible or even inappropriate. Nutrients effectively suppress the catabolic intracellular autophagy pathway. But autophagy is crucial for cellular integrity and function during metabolic stress, and consequently its inhibition early in critical illness might be deleterious. Evidence from large nutrition trials, particularly in acute cardiac illness, is scarce. Nutrition therapy is therefore focused on avoiding iatrogenic harm. Some enteral nutrition is administered if possible and eventually temporary hypocaloric feeding is tolerated. Above all, the refeeding syndrome and other nutrition-related complications should be prevented. There is no indication for early parenteral nutrition, increased protein doses, specific amino acids, or modified lipids in critical illness.

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Nutrition support in acute cardiac care

10.1093/med/9780199687039.003.0032 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

Michael P Casaer ◽

Greet Van den Berghe

Keyword(s):

Critical Illness ◽

Critically Ill ◽

Metabolic Stress ◽

Nutrition Therapy ◽

Nutrition Support ◽

Critically Ill Patient ◽

Refeeding Syndrome ◽

New Findings ◽

Early Parenteral Nutrition ◽

And Function

Malnutrition in cardiac and critical illness is associated with a compromised clinical outcome. The aim of nutrition therapy is to prevent these complications and particularly to attenuate lean tissue wasting and the loss of muscle force and of physical function. During the last decade, several well-powered randomized controlled nutrition trials have been performed. Their results challenge the existing nutrition practices in critically ill patients. Enhancing the nutritional intake and the administration of specialized formulations failed to evoke clinical benefit. Some interventions even provoked an increased mortality or a delayed recovery. These unexpected new findings might be, in part, caused by an important leap forward in the methodological quality in the recent trials. Perhaps reversing early catabolism in the critically ill patient by nutrition or anabolic interventions is impossible or even inappropriate. Nutrients effectively suppress the catabolic intracellular autophagy pathway. But autophagy is crucial for cellular integrity and function during metabolic stress, and consequently its inhibition early in critical illness might be deleterious. Evidence from large nutrition trials, particularly in acute cardiac illness, is scarce. Nutrition therapy is therefore focused on avoiding iatrogenic harm. Some enteral nutrition is administered if possible and eventually temporary hypocaloric feeding is tolerated. Above all, the refeeding syndrome and other nutrition-related complications should be prevented. There is no indication for early parenteral nutrition, increased protein doses, specific amino acids, or modified lipids in critical illness.

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Nutrition in the Intensive Care Unit—A Narrative Review

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13082851 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 2851

Author(s):

Aileen Hill ◽

Gunnar Elke ◽

Arved Weimann

Keyword(s):

Critically Ill ◽

Feeding Strategy ◽

Interdisciplinary Approach ◽

Nutrition Therapy ◽

Narrative Review ◽

Optimal Timing ◽

Special Focus ◽

Prognostic Impact ◽

Specific Patient ◽

The Impact

Background: While consent exists, that nutritional status has prognostic impact in the critically ill, the optimal feeding strategy has been a matter of debate. Methods: Narrative review of the recent evidence and international guideline recommendations focusing on basic principles of nutrition in the ICU and the treatment of specific patient groups. Covered topics are: the importance and diagnosis of malnutrition in the ICU, the optimal timing and route of nutrition, energy and protein requirements, the supplementation of specific nutrients, as well as monitoring and complications of a Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT). Furthermore, this review summarizes the available evidence to optimize the MNT of patients grouped by primarily affected organ system. Results: Due to the considerable heterogeneity of the critically ill, MNT should be carefully adapted to the individual patient with special focus on phase of critical illness, metabolic tolerance, leading symptoms, and comorbidities. Conclusion: MNT in the ICU is complex and requiring an interdisciplinary approach and frequent reevaluation. The impact of personalized and disease-specific MNT on patient-centered clinical outcomes remains to be elucidated.

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