RCT

TARGET Protein

Augmented Enteral Protein During Critical Illness

JAMA, 2025 · Cluster randomized crossover trial (n=3397)

Clinical question

Does augmented enteral protein improve days alive and free of hospital?

Population: Critically ill adults receiving enteral nutrition
Intervention: Augmented-protein enteral formula
Comparator: Usual-protein enteral formula
Primary outcome: Days free of index hospital and alive at day 90
Result: No significant improvement in the primary outcome or survival.

What the trial found

Augmenting enteral protein did not improve patient-centered outcomes.

Current guideline position

Contemporary randomized evidence informing protein-dose uncertainty.

Clinical interpretation

Do not present aggressive protein augmentation as a proven outcome-improving priority.

Clinical Context & Relevant Topics (1)

Disease Reference

Critical Illness Nutrition & Metabolism

Phased energy and protein delivery, early enteral nutrition when safe, indirect calorimetry, refeeding prevention, feeding-intolerance troubleshooting, and individualized parenteral nutrition timing.

View Topic Context →