Could feeding ICU patients in short bursts save their muscles?
NCT ID NCT03587870
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether giving protein-rich formula in short bursts (intermittent feeding) is better than the standard continuous drip for preventing muscle loss in critically ill patients. 113 ICU adults expected to stay at least 5 days were randomly assigned to one of the two feeding methods. Researchers measured how quickly patients reached their daily protein goal and tracked muscle changes with ultrasound and biopsies.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Fresubin Intensive (protein-rich enteral nutrition formula)
- What this could lead to
- If intermittent feeding works better, it could become a simpler, more natural way to prevent muscle loss in ICU patients and speed up recovery.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small pilot study, so results may not be conclusive. The two groups also get different protein targets, which could affect comparisons.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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113 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Mar 2019
- Finished
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Feb 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Informed Consent as documented by signature * Adult patients (age 18 years or older) * Expected ICU stay of five days or longer * Expected enteral feeding during at least five days Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnancy or breast feeding (women of childbearing age are tested for high beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in urine or serum upon ICU admission) * Clinically significant chronic or acute kidney insufficiency with a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) \<15. * BMI ≤ 18 and ≥ 35. * Intestinal perforation, peritonitis, intestinal fistula, necrosis or other contraindication to enteral diet * Death or discharge before 48 hours of observation * Noradrenaline ≥ 0.5 µg/kg bodyweight /min * Inherited and chronic skeletal muscle disease (e.g. Morbus Duchenne or other motoneuron disease) * Paralysis (e.g. hemiplegia, tetraplegia and paraplegia) * Immunosuppression * Haematologic malignancy
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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University Hospital Basel, operative ICU
Basel, Canton of Basel-City, 4031, Switzerland
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.