NCT07173504

The Effect of Continuous Versus Intermittent Enteral Nutrition on Metabolic Outcomes in Critically Ill Patients

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 124 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Gelderse Vallei Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the effect of continuous versus intermittent enteral nutrition on metabolic outcomes in critically ill adult patients. The aim of this study is to: • To assess the effect of a daytime intermittent tube feeding pattern compared to standard continuous tube feeding on glycaemic control, gastrointestinal function, gastrointestinal hormones, markers of sleep quality and circadian rhythm, and lean body mass and body composition. Participants will receive either continuous enteral nutrition for 24 hours a day or intermittent enteral nutrition during the day, consisting of 4 portions each administered over 1 hour between 8 am and 8 pm. The maximum duration of the intervention is 5 days or until participants do not receive exclusive gastric enteral nutrition.

Conditions

• Critical Illness

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Intermittent enteral nutrition	Participants will receive intermittent enteral nutrition in four separate portions between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Each portion will be administered over a one-hour period.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-09-30
• Primary completion: 2028-06-01
• Completion: 2028-09-01
• First posted: 2025-09-15
• Last updated: 2026-03-13

Locations

5 sites across 1 country: Netherlands