Abstract
Objectives: The aim was to evaluate low non-protein calorie/nitrogen (NPC/N) ratio enteral nutrition compared to our conventional enteral nutrition in critically ill patients. Methods: An unblinded randomized control study was performed in a single tertiary emergency critical care center. Patients with mechanical ventilation were randomized to receive our conventional enteral diet (Group S, n=15) or low NPC/N enteral diet (Group A, n=13) and monitored for 28 days. The main outcomes measured were ventilator-free days (VFD) and ICU length of stay. The secondary outcomes were SOFA score, plasma albumin and prealbumin, adverse events and mortality. Results: The total calories delivered was similar in both groups, but protein delivery was significantly higher in patients in group A (P=0.02) who received low NPC/N enteral nutrition. There were also favorable trends in group A for VFD (P=0.10) and improved nutritional markers (plasma albumin and prealbumin) (P=0.13, P=0.10). There was no difference between the study groups in SOFA score change or survival. Conclusion: In critically ill patients, a higher provision of protein in enteral nutrition could be associated with decreased length of mechanical ventilation and improvement of nutritional markers.
