The Energy Dose Study

Protein and/or energy deficits are associated with increased rates of hospital infection, skeletal muscle weakness, impaired wound healing, and prolonged convalescence in ICU patients. To prevent or treat malnutrition, enteral nutrition (EN) and/or parenteral nutrition (PN) are routinely given worldwide to a significant proportion of ICU patients. Optimal caloric requirements in critically ill patients are unknown due to a lack of rigorous randomized clinical trials. The comparative efficacy of energy doses in critically ill patients is unknown and clinical recommendations are conflicting and controversial. The primary aim of this study is to perform a controlled, double-blind, prospective, randomized, intent-to-treat Phase II clinical trial to test the efficacy of three specific energy doses on 28-day total hospital-acquired infections (primary endpoint), blood stream infections (BSI), and other important clinical outcomes in medical/surgical ICU patients requiring specialized parenteral ± enteral feeding. The investigators would also determine the impact of cumulative and mean daily 28-day energy deficits on clinical outcome endpoints; the practical utility of estimated resting energy expenditure (REE) determined by Harris-Benedict equation versus measured REE across different energy doses. The investigators would also like to determine the impact of administered energy dose and energy deficits on global metabolomic patterns over time and their association with key clinical outcomes. Participants will be randomized to receive one of three specific energy doses, 0.6, 1.0 and 1.3 times measured REE, given for 28 consecutive days during the ICU and post-ICU course.