Recruiting

Testing When to Start Nutrition Support in Critically Ill Patients

Plain-English translation of NCT07085455 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated September 2025 · Translation generated October 2026 · How we translate trials

This study doesn't follow the usual testing phases — it may be an observational study or a different type of research.

What is this trial?

When you're very sick in the ICU and can't eat normally, doctors sometimes give nutrition through an IV line called supplemental parenteral nutrition. This trial is testing whether starting this nutrition support earlier (on day 4 of your ICU stay) versus waiting longer (until day 8) helps you recover better and increases your chances of surviving. Researchers want to find the best timing to give this nutrition support to critically ill patients.

Doctors aren't sure about the best time to start IV nutrition support in very sick patients. Starting too early might cause problems, but waiting too long might leave patients undernourished when they need strength to recover. This trial will help doctors figure out the safest and most effective timing.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are at least 18 years old
you have organ failure (such as kidney, lung, or heart problems) diagnosed within 24 hours of ICU admission
your doctors expect you'll need to stay in the ICU for more than 3 days
you can start receiving nutrition through a feeding tube within 48 hours of ICU admission
you are not getting enough calories from regular tube feeding alone (less than 50% of what you need)

You likely don't qualify if…

you are able to eat by mouth and are getting enough nutrition that way
you are receiving comfort care only or are expected to pass away within 72 hours
you are pregnant or breastfeeding
you have cancer and are currently receiving chemotherapy or radiation
you are already in another clinical trial testing a medication or treatment

What participation looks like

If you join, you'll be randomly assigned to receive nutrition support starting either on day 4 or day 8 of your ICU stay — both groups also receive standard tube feeding. Doctors will monitor your nutrition, muscle strength, infections, and organ function throughout your stay. You'll be followed up at 28 days, 90 days, 180 days, and 2 years after leaving the ICU to check how well you've recovered.

Testing When to Start Nutrition Support in Critically Ill Patients

What is this trial?

Do you qualify?

What participation looks like

Trial locations(2 sites)