High protein versus medium protein delivery under equal total energy delivery in critical care: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Appropriate protein delivery amounts during the acute phase of critical care are unknown. Along with nutrition, early mobilization and the combination are important. We conducted a randomized controlled trial during critical care to assess high-protein and medium-protein delivery under equal total energy delivery with and without active early rehabilitation.

Methods: ICU patients of August 2018-September 2019 were allocated to a high-protein group (target energy 20 kcal/kg/day, protein 1.8 g/kg/day) or a medium-protein group (target energy 20 kcal/kg/day, protein 0.9 g/kg/day) with the same nutrition protocol by day 10. By dividing the study period, standard rehabilitation was administered during the initial period. Rehabilitation with belt-type electrical muscle stimulation was given from day 2 in the latter as a historical comparison. Femoral muscle volume was evaluated on day 1 and day 10 using computed tomography.

Results: This study analyzed 117 eligible patients with similar characteristics assigned to a high-protein or medium-protein group. Total energy delivery was around 20 kcal/kg/day in both groups, but protein delivery was 1.5 g/kg/day and 0.8 g/kg/day. As a primary outcome, femoral muscle volume loss was 12.9 ± 8.5% in the high-protein group and 16.9 ± 7.0% in the medium-protein group, with significant difference (p = 0.0059). Persistent inflammation, immunosuppression, and catabolism syndrome were significantly less frequent in the high-protein group. Muscle volume loss was significantly less in the high-protein group only during the electrical muscle stimulation period.

Conclusions: For critical care, high protein delivery provided better muscle volume maintenance, but only with active early rehabilitation.

Registration: University Hospital Medical Information Network, UMIN000033783 Registered on 16 Aug 2018. https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000038538.

Keywords: Critical care; Electrical muscle stimulation; Immunosuppression and catabolism syndrome; Nutrition; Persistent inflammation, PICS; Protein.