Nutrition in critical care · How much protein
Augmented Enteral Protein During Critical Illness
| Design | Cluster-randomised crossover clinical trial |
|---|---|
| Treatment | Augmented enteral protein formulation |
| Control | Standard enteral formulation |
| Population | 3397 critically ill patients, median age 61, 64% male |
| Follow-up | 90 days |
| Primary endpoint | Days free of the index hospital and alive at day 90 |
| Result | Median days free of the index hospital and alive at day 90 was 62 (IQR 0 to 77) in the augmented protein group, with no meaningful advantage over standard formulation. |
| Secondary endpoints | Mortality, duration of ventilation, ICU length of stay |
Augmenting enteral protein during critical illness did not improve number of days free of the index hospital and alive at day 90.
The trial authors, in the published abstract
Concordant with EFFORT Protein and larger. Between them, the case for pushing protein in critical illness has collapsed, and nutrition in the ICU now looks like a supportive measure rather than a therapeutic lever.
Summers MJ, Chapple LS, Karahalios A, et al. Augmented Enteral Protein During Critical Illness: The TARGET Protein Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 2025 Jul 22;334(4):319-328.