💥 Potential Impact
60-day mortality reduced by 28%. For example, if normally 10 out of 100 patients passed away by day 60, only 7 out of 100 did so when on a high-protein diet
🌟 Introduction
For critically ill patients in the ICU, nutrition can be a matter of life or death. Getting adequate protein is especially important to help preserve muscle mass and support recovery. But how much protein is enough when every calorie counts? New research suggests there is an optimal daily protein intake that could significantly boost survival rates.
🧩 Definition Section
- Protein intake: The amount of protein consumed daily through diet or supplements. Measured in grams per kilogram (g per kg) of body weight. For a 200-pound person, 1 gram per kg would equal about 91 grams of protein per day.
- Mortality rate: The proportion of deaths within a defined population over a specified time period.
- Muscle atrophy: Loss of muscle mass due to breakdown of muscle proteins.
📈 Recommendation
ICU patients should aim for a high-protein diet of at least 1.2 g per kg daily to reduce 60-day mortality risk. For a 200 lb person, this would equal 109 grams of protein per day.
Doing the math, it’s about 0.544 grams of protein for every pound (lb) someone weighs.
🎓 Findings
- Patients getting ≥1.2 g/kg protein had 28% lower 60-day mortality than those getting <1.2 g/kg.
- No difference was found for ICU, hospital, 28-day, or 6-month mortality.
- High protein intake improved nitrogen balance scores by 12 points more on average (1.2 standard deviations).
- Muscle loss was reduced by 8 points on average (0.8 standard deviations) with high protein.
🧠 Why it Matters
More protein helps preserve muscle mass by inhibiting muscle breakdown. This protects physical function and supports recovery.
✋ Limitations
Effects were only seen at 60 days. More data needed on long-term outcomes.
🌍 Real-World Example
Some hospitals have implemented high-protein feeding protocols. Patients who received ≥1.2 g/kg protein through these protocols had better survival.
⚡ Steps to Implement
- Calculate your protein needs (1.2 g per kg) based on current body weight. For a 150 lb person, that’s about 82 grams per day.
- Increase protein intake to meet this goal through diet, supplements, or feeding protocol.
- Re-calculate protein needs as body weight changes.
- Consume evenly throughout the day for continuous muscle synthesis.
Study Details
🔬 Study Type: Meta-analysis combined data from 29 different studies with a total of 7,190 ICU patients.
👩🔬 Authors: Isabel M. van Ruijven et al.
❓ FAQs
Q: How was the optimal protein intake determined?
A: Through meta-analysis comparing results for patients getting ≥1.2 g/kg vs <1.2 g/kg protein daily. 1.2 g/kg was chosen because it matches tips from medical experts for critically ill patients.
Q: Did higher protein intake cause any bad side effects?
A: No differences were found between groups for vomiting, diarrhea, stomach issues, time in ICU/hospital, or infections. So higher protein appears safe.
Q: Should all critically ill patients try to eat 1.2 g/kg protein?
A: 1.2 g/kg is a general tip, but the best intake can vary based on factors like illness severity and kidney function. Work with your medical team to find your needs.
🌟 Final Note
Ensuring adequate protein intake can be life-saving for the critically ill, but more research is still needed to confirm these findings. Have you or your loved ones had experience with high-protein diets in the ICU? I’d love to hear your story in the comments!
📚 References:
van Ruijven, I. M., Abma, J., Brunsveld-Reinders, A. H., Stapel, S. N., van Etten-Jamaludin, F., Boirie, Y., Barazzoni, R., & Weijs, P. J. M. (2023). High protein provision of more than 1.2 g/kg improves muscle mass preservation and mortality in ICU patients: A systematic review and meta-analyses. Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland), 42(12), 2395–2403. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2023.09.026
🔍 Key Statistics:
| Statistic | What it Means |
|---|---|
| 28% lower 60-day mortality with ≥1.2 g/kg protein | High protein intake may significantly improve 60-day survival |
| 12 point improvement in nitrogen balance with high protein | More protein helps conserve muscle mass by blocking breakdown |
| 8 point less muscle loss with high protein | Directly shows high protein preserves muscle mass |
