Permissive underfeeding of the critically ill patient

The rise in the popularity of nutrition support in the 1970s was associated with the concept of "hyperalimentation." This concept was based on the early findings that increased metabolic rates were observed in various disease states such as trauma, sepsis, and burns. The aim was to feed 40% to 100% above the basal metabolic rate to avoid weight loss associated with critical illness. Since that time, several observations have indicated that permissive underfeeding may be beneficial because: (a) the metabolic rate is not markedly increased in most patients with critical illness except burns; (b) weight gain during nutrition support in critical illness is not caused by a gain in nitrogen but fat; (c) energy intake as glucose in excess of needs causes increased carbon dioxide production and a fatty liver; (d) hyperglycemia increases the risk of infective complications; and (e) a controlled trial of preoperative nutrition in which patients received 1000 kcal above the metabolic rate increased infectious complications.