Muscle weakness and nutrition therapy in ICU

Muscle wasting is common in severe critical illness. ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) contributes to acute and long-term morbidity and mortality. The question remains whether nutrition therapy in ICU can prevent or attenuate these complications. This review aims at integrating the most recent clinical data in order to answer this important clinical and research question. Clinical evidence was obtained from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Results from animal experiments and observational studies are referred to when - respectively - providing possible explanatory mechanisms or new hypotheses.status: publishe