title: Effect of early compared with delayed enteral nutrition on endocrine function in patients with traumatic brain injury: an open-labeled randomized trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Traumatic brain injury (TBI) results in a hypermetabolic and hypercatabolic status in which adequate nutrition support is essential to improve clinical outcome. The endocrine system of a patient with TBI is also affected and may play a critical role in either the metabolic or the immunologic response to the trauma. In the present study, the effect of standard, delayed enteral feeding (DEF), compared with early (within 24-48 hours) enteral feeding (EEF), on the endocrine function of patients with TBI was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  This comparative, prospective, open-labeled, randomized study included TBI patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Injury severity was assessed by the Glasgow Coma Scale and predicted mortality by the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II. Twenty-five patients received DEF and 34 patients received EEF. The effect of the onset of nutrition on pituitary, thyroidal, gonadal, and adrenal function was investigated on days 6 and 12 after admission to the hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone, free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, and testosterone (in males) of DEF patients declined in comparison to levels of the day of admission to the ICU. The decrease of hormonal values was less pronounced in the EEF group. Cortisol concentrations rose in the DEF group; a lesser hormonal change was found in the EEF group. Deaths during the study for the DEF group and EEF group were 2 and 3, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EEF may exert beneficial effects on the hormonal profile of TBI patients, possibly contributing to a better clinical outcome in this patient group.
authors.affiliation: Anesthesiology Department and ICU, AHEPA Hospital, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chourdakis
authors.forename: Michaela M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kraus
authors.forename: Thrasivoulos
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tzellos
authors.forename: Chrysanthi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sardeli
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peftoulidou
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vassilakos
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kouvelas
mesh_terms: D018806:APACHE; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013739:Testosterone; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine; D006854:Hydrocortisone