The Effect of Sequential Feeding for Circadian Rhythm and Gut Flora Rhythm in Critically Ill Patients

The Effect of Sequential Feeding for Circadian Rhythm and Gut Flora Rhythm in Critically Ill Patients

Circadian rhythms plays an important role for healthy. And critical illness contributes to the disruption of circadian rhythms. Not only right but also feeding can affect the circadian clock gene expression. In a investigators' previous study, some metabolic indicators (the albumin level, total cholesterol level and total bile acid level) and the increases in lymphocyte counts in the sequential feeding group were different from those in the continuous feeding group. Investigators think sequential feeding may adjust circadian clock gene expression for its effect on metabolism and immunity. Moreover, sequential feeding did alter the abundances of some gut microbes to some degree in the investigators' previous study. Investigators think sequential feeding may adjust gut flora rhythms.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients newly admitted to ICU were eligible for inclusion.

Exclusion Criteria:

• An estimated feeding time of less than 10 days in ICU;
• Diabetes;
• Gastrointestinal disease (gastrointestinal surgery, gastrointestinal bleeding, pancreatitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome);
• Inability to tolerate ≥80% of the nutrition target calories (25-30 kcal/kg/d) with enteral feeding through gastric tube;
• The ability to eat orally at admission.