NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT OF CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS

Severe depletion of body protein stores can result from prolonged star vation or from hormonal and cytokine-mediated effects during critical illness. Recent advances in the understanding of cytokine actions have substantially refined the interpretation of the nutritional assessmen t of critically ill patients. In addition, the design of nutritional p rograms for hospitalized patients has changed considerably during the past decade. Although nutritional support of critically ill patients w ill not lead to positive nitrogen balance, nutrition can increase prot ein synthesis, enhance immune function, and beneficially modify the bo dy's response to an illness.