Could fasting windows in tube feeding help ICU patients recover faster?

NCT ID NCT07270939

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This trial tests whether giving ICU patients a break from tube feeding (4 or 6 hours daily) improves outcomes compared to continuous 24-hour feeding. About 150 critically ill adults on ventilators will be randomly assigned to one of three schedules. Researchers will track ICU stay length, infections like pneumonia, blood sugar control, and feeding tolerance.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
enteral nutrition (tube feeding) with different fasting windows
What this could lead to
If successful, this could show that shorter feeding cycles with fasting periods reduce ICU stays and infections for critically ill patients.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-stage trial (150 participants) comparing feeding schedules, not a new drug. Results may not apply to all ICU patients, and benefits may be modest.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Critical Illness hyperglycemia Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.