An Exploratory Cum Prospective Study to Assess the Impact of Nutritionally Balanced Enteral Formula Feed in Critical Care Patients

Enteral Nutrition (EN) prevents malnutrition and promotes recovery in critically ill patients. Despite the benefits, current EN formulations are associated with concerns like gastrointestinal intolerance, electrolyte imbalances, and hyperglycemia. Balanced EN formulations improve recovery, reduce hospital stays, and enhance patient outcomes. This study evaluated efficacy and tolerability of a novel balanced EN formula in supporting patient recovery and reducing length of hospital stay in critically ill patients. The study included 19 hospitalized critically ill patients aged ≥18 years, with mean (SD) age of 52.4(14.98) years. EN intake was monitored for a minimum of 3-14 days or until discharge. Target calorie and protein intakes were evaluated in accordance with ASPEN/ESPEN guidelines 2019. The analysis of target macronutrient intake reported adequate levels in 17 (89.5) patients, with a mean (SD) daily caloric intake of 1737 (582.1) kcal, and 95% Class Interval (CI) ranging from 1646 to 1828 kcal. The mean (SD) of daily protein intake was 82.9 (27.78) grams. The mean (SD) hospital stay was 12.7 (9.39) days, with a Interquartile range (IQR) of 11 (7.0;18.0) days and a median of 8 days. Most patients showed improvements in micronutrient profiles and achieved electrolyte homeostasis without hyperglycemic episodes. Notably, no gastrointestinal (GI) complications were observed, and no prokinetic agents were administered, indicating tolerability and acceptance of the formula. No serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported. These findings suggest that the novel EN formula is effective in supporting the recovery of critically ill patients, while demonstrating favourable safety and tolerability profile. Keywords Critical Illness, Nutritional Support, Enteral Nutrition, Macronutrients, Micronutrients, Gastrointestinal Tract, Feed Tolerance, Prokinetics, ESPEN Guidelines