Nutrition in the acute phase of illness

Recent research of nutrition in the acute phase has brought up important findings regarding high protein and energy administration in critical illness with suggested adverse outcomes in catabolic patients. On the other hand, refeeding hypophosphatemia and refeeding syndrome may also be common during acute illness especially in chronically malnourished patients. Moreover, enteral nutrition is no longer superior to parenteral nutrition in recent studies as signals of harm using the enteral route in shock have been suggested. A consensus scheme for diagnosing malnutrition in adults in clinical settings on a global scale has been proposed. Nutrition screening, assessment and intervention guidelines in intensive care and in chronic polymorbid internal patients has recently been published. These new findings and guidelines will probably change the practice of metabolic and nutrition therapy in acute illness and subsequent recovery.