Mixed
High-protein provision (≥1.2 g/kg/day) combined with exercise therapy improves muscle mass and functional independence (ADL) in ICU survivors, but does not significantly improve quality of life (QoL) or mortality compared to standard care.
For ICU survivors, combining high protein intake (aiming for >1.2 g/kg/day) with early, structured exercise (including electrical stimulation if needed) can help preserve muscle and improve daily independence. However, this does not guarantee better quality of life or survival, and success depends heavily on actually delivering the prescribed protein, which is often difficult due to gut issues during critical illness.
Two studies reported improvements in muscle mass, of which one found higher independency in activities of daily living. No significant effect was found on QoL. Overall, protein targets were seldom met and often below recommendations.
Why this rating
Systematic review of 15 studies (9 RCTs, 6 NRSI), but high heterogeneity, risk of bias, and lack of high-quality studies limit robustness.
Source
The effect of protein provision and exercise therapy on patient‐reported and clinical outcomes in intensive care unit survivors: A systematic review
Iris Barth et al. · Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics · 2023
DOI 10.1111/jhn.13188
Related findings · Mixed
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- For patients with Class III obesity (BMI >39.9 kg/m2), metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) is significantly more effective than any currently approved medication, with BilioPancreatic Diversion (BPD) showing the highest estimated weight loss.Strong
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