The Effect of Sequential Feeding for Circadian Rhythm and Gut Flora Rhythm in Critically Ill Patients

Qingdao University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Critical Illness; Circadian Rhythm Disorders; Feeding Patterns

Treatments: Other: feeding type

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06083831

QYFYEC2023-108

Details and patient eligibility

About

Circadian rhythms plays an important role for healthy. And critical illness contributes to the disruption of circadian rhythms. Not only right but also feeding can affect the circadian clock gene expression. In a investigators' previous study, some metabolic indicators (the albumin level, total cholesterol level and total bile acid level) and the increases in lymphocyte counts in the sequential feeding group were different from those in the continuous feeding group. Investigators think sequential feeding may adjust circadian clock gene expression for its effect on metabolism and immunity. Moreover, sequential feeding did alter the abundances of some gut microbes to some degree in the investigators' previous study. Investigators think sequential feeding may adjust gut flora rhythms.

Enrollment: 20 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients newly admitted to ICU were eligible for inclusion.

Exclusion criteria

• An estimated feeding time of less than 10 days in ICU;
• Diabetes;
• Gastrointestinal disease (gastrointestinal surgery, gastrointestinal bleeding, pancreatitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome);
• Inability to tolerate ≥80% of the nutrition target calories (25-30 kcal/kg/d) with enteral feeding through gastric tube;
• The ability to eat orally at admission.

Trial design

20 participants in 2 patient groups

Sequential feeding group

Description:

After achieving ≥80% of the nutrition target calories (25-30 kcal/kg/d) by continuous feeding, continuous feeding was changed into intermittent feeding. The total daily dosage of enteral nutrition was equally distributed during three periods at 7-9:00, 11-13:00 and 17-19:00. The enteral nutritional suspension administered during each period was given at a uniform rate within two hours by an enteral feeding pump. The other times of the day were fasting times.

Treatment:

Other: feeding type

Continuous feeding group

Description:

Patients received continous feeding with a constant velocity by an enteral feeding pump over one day.

Treatment:

Other: feeding type