title: Protein-energy nutrition in the ICU is the power couple: A hypothesis forming analysis.
abstract: We hypothesize that an optimal and simultaneous provision of energy and protein is favorable to clinical outcome of the critically ill patients.
  
  
  
  We conducted a review of the literature, obtained via electronic databases and focused on the metabolic alterations during critical illness, the estimation of energy and protein requirements, as well as the impact of their administration.
  
  
  
  Critically ill patients undergo severe metabolic stress during which time a great amount of energy and protein is utilized in a variety of reactions essential for survival. Energy provision for critically ill patients has drawn attention given its association with morbidity, survival and long-term recovery, but protein provision is not sufficiently taken into account as a critical component of nutrition support that influences clinical outcome. Measurement of energy expenditure is done by indirect calorimetry, but protein status cannot be measured with a bedside technology at present.
  
  
  
  Recent studies suggest the importance of optimal and combined provision of energy and protein to optimize clinical outcome. Clinical randomized controlled studies measuring energy and protein targets should confirm this hypothesis and therefore establish energy and protein as a power couple.
authors.affiliation: Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana Chuou-ku, Chiba City, Chiba 260-8677, Japan. Electronic address: t_oshima@chiba-u.jp.
authors.forename: Taku
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oshima
authors.affiliation: Center for Translational Research in Aging & Longevity, Department of Health & Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, Texas, USA. Electronic address: nep.deutz@tamu.edu.
authors.forename: Nicolaas E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Deutz
authors.affiliation: Royal North Shore Hospital, Northern Clinical School Intensive Care Research Unit, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: gdoig@med.usyd.edu.au.
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Doig
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 12700 E, 19th Avenue, Box 8602, RC2 P15-7120, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. Electronic address: Paul.Wischmeyer@ucdenver.edu.
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Wischmeyer
authors.affiliation: Clinical Nutrition, Geneva University Hospital, Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland. Electronic address: claude.pichard@unige.ch.
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pichard
mesh_terms: D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000628:therapy*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002149:Energy Intake; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009752:Nutritional Status
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins
keywords: Critical illness; Energy metabolism; Indirect calorimetry; Intensive care units; Nutritional requirements; Protein metabolism