1. When to start diet therapy?
Early introduction of enteral nutrition (EN) helps to reduce complications, reduce infectious diseases, and shorten the stay in intensive care. It is recommended to start EN in the first 24-48 hours from the moment of hospitalization.
2. How much energy does a patient need?
Studies show that 70% of the daily norm is the optimal amount of energy for patients in intensive care. In terms of calories, this is 10-15 kcal / kg of body weight.
3. How much protein does a patient need?
The international recommendation is 1.3-2.0 g / kg / day. However, due to anabolic resistance (due to lack of physical activity), the amount of protein can be reduced to 1.2 g / kg / day. At the same time, the patient’s survival rate is maintained.
4. Personalization of feeding and fasting periods
Continuous feeding can be fraught with a decrease in autophagy and ketogenesis. Intermittent nutrient supply also helps restore the patient’s natural circadian rhythms and improve metabolic processes.
5. Monitoring micronutrients and vitamins
Micronutrient deficiencies are common in the ICU. ESPEN recommends regular monitoring of individual nutrients. With the help of monitoring, a personalized diet is created for each patient.
Source: Critical Care
P.S.: the opinion of the editors may not coincide with the opinion of the authors