Comparison of the Effects of Intermittent and Continuous Enteral Feeding on Glucose-Insulin Dynamics in Critically Ill Medical Patients

October 17, 2019 updated by: Tyson Sjulin, D.O., San Antonio Military Medical Center
Continuous enteral feeding is the most common type of nutrition used in critically ill patients despite being non-physiologic, as all mammalian alimentary tracts have been designed for intermittent ingestion of nutrients. The small numbers of randomized controlled studies that have compared intermittent gastric feeds (IGF) to continuous gastric feeds (CGF) in intensive care units have demonstrated that IGF is safe, feasible and have the shorter time to goal nutrition. Studies of healthy adults have also demonstrated that the mean glucose concentration (MGC) is lowered when bolus enteral feedings are used instead of continuous feeds; these changes in glucose-insulin metrics might be beneficial to a critically ill patient population where stress hyperglycemia is common. This study will compare the effects of CGF and IGF in a critically ill medical patient population. Glucose-insulin dynamics for each type of enteral feed will be analyzed by performing a randomized crossover study to compare the effects of CGF and IGF on MGC, total insulin infused, glucose variability (GV), episodes of hypoglycemia and maximum glucose concentration values.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This will be a non-blinded randomized crossover study in a generalized population of critically ill adults. The population of this study is defined from the ages of 18-90 admitted to the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU). This study will compare the glucose-insulin dynamics in critically ill adults that are feed using either a CGF or IGF scheme while their glucose concentrations are maintained between 140-180 mg/dl using an insulin infusion protocol. Randomization performed using computer generated random numbers kept individually in sealed envelopes. All participants will have nasal gastric or oral gastric (NG/OG) tube previously placed for their nutritional needs. The amount of Osmolite given will be determined by the ideal weight for each participant: 1.2 cal/ml Osmolite with caloric goal of 25 kcal/kg/day. Feeding intolerance develops which is defined as: excessive abdominal distention, emesis, abdominal pain, vomiting and gastric residual > 250 ml for IGF and gastric residual > 500 ml for CGF.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
26

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 90 years (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 18-90 years
  • Anticipated ICU stay greater than 72 hours
  • Expected indication for enteral feeding within first 24-48 hours of ICU admission

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Any contraindications relating to an oral or nasal gastric tube, Osmolite 1.2 cal/ml, goal rate (or goal volume) of Osmolite 1.2 cal/ml using a 24-hour goal nutrition, gastric feeds due to anatomical/physiological pathology, ideal body weight that exceeds 85 kg to maintain goal volumes in the intermittent arm below 301 ml or a potassium greater than 6.4.
  • Planned procedures or tests that would require holding gastric feeds during the protocol.
  • Pregnancy, confirmed by pregnancy test on all females < 60 years of age.
  • Hemodynamic instability as defined by any vasoactive medication requirement for blood pressure support or cardiac arrhythmias to include: Norepinephrine ≥ 5 mcg/min, Epinephrine ≥ 5 mcg/min, Dopamine > 5 mcg/kg/min, Milrinone 0.375mcg/kg/min, Vasopressin > 0.04 Units/min, Dobutamine > 5 mcg/kg/min, any other vasoactive drip, and any combination of low dose vasopressors listed above. Atrial Nodal blocking agents used in a continuous drip form to include diltiazem, esmolol and amiodarone are allowed if not requiring the above vasoactive medications restrictions.
  • Prior surgical procedure that would preclude a goal rate/or volume for CGF/IGF to include: previous partial or complete gastrectomy or massive intestinal resection leaving less than 200 cm of small bowel.
  • Screening glucose concentration less than 120 mg/dl while NPO unless diabetic.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
  • Allocation: RANDOMIZED
  • Interventional Model: CROSSOVER
  • Masking: NONE

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
OTHER: Continuous Enteral Feeding

Crossover Study:

Randomized to continuous enteral feeding first then crossed over to receive versus intermittent enteral feeding next.
Other: Comparison of the Effects of Intermittent and Continuous Enteral Feeding on Glucose-Insulin Dynamics in Critically Ill Medical Patients
  1. Placement of feeding tube stomach (oral- or naso-gastric tube)
  2. Randomized to receive either continuous feeding or intermittent feeding first. Once at goal nutrition for 4 hours, enter first 4-hour data collection interval. Next proceed with cross-over and complete a 4-hour washout period with the feed type. Finally enter second 4-hour data collection period. To enter into the first data collection period, the patient would require an insulin infusion.
  3. There will be five blood glucose checks in each data collection period.
  4. If two blood glucose concentrations are above 180 mg/dl then a regular insulin infusion will be initiated.
Dietary supplement: Osmolite 1.2 cal/ml Enteral Feeds
Osmolite 1.2 cal/ml Enteral Feeds via feeding tube (oral- or naso-gastric tube)
OTHER: intermittent enteral feeding

Crossover Study:

Randomized to intermittent enteral feeding first then crossed over to receive versus continuous enteral feeding next.
Other: Comparison of the Effects of Intermittent and Continuous Enteral Feeding on Glucose-Insulin Dynamics in Critically Ill Medical Patients
  1. Placement of feeding tube stomach (oral- or naso-gastric tube)
  2. Randomized to receive either continuous feeding or intermittent feeding first. Once at goal nutrition for 4 hours, enter first 4-hour data collection interval. Next proceed with cross-over and complete a 4-hour washout period with the feed type. Finally enter second 4-hour data collection period. To enter into the first data collection period, the patient would require an insulin infusion.
  3. There will be five blood glucose checks in each data collection period.
  4. If two blood glucose concentrations are above 180 mg/dl then a regular insulin infusion will be initiated.
Dietary supplement: Osmolite 1.2 cal/ml Enteral Feeds
Osmolite 1.2 cal/ml Enteral Feeds via feeding tube (oral- or naso-gastric tube)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Total insulin infused
Time Frame: total time in the protocol should be 36 hours to include crossover
Total insulin infused
total time in the protocol should be 36 hours to include crossover

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Mean glucose concentration
Time Frame: time the protocol should be 36 hours to include crossover
Mean glucose concentration
time the protocol should be 36 hours to include crossover

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Glucose standard deviation
Time Frame: total time in the protocol should be 36 hours to include crossover
Glucose standard deviation
total time in the protocol should be 36 hours to include crossover
Maximum glucose concentration
Time Frame: total time in the protocol should be 36 hours to include crossover
Maximum glucose concentration
total time in the protocol should be 36 hours to include crossover
Minimum glucose concentration
Time Frame: total time in the protocol should be 36 hours to include crossover
Minimum glucose concentration
total time in the protocol should be 36 hours to include crossover
Episodes of hypoglycemia
Time Frame: total time in the protocol should be 36 hours to include crossover
Glucose concentration < 70 mg/dl
total time in the protocol should be 36 hours to include crossover

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
San Antonio Military Medical Center

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
August 1, 2016

Primary Completion (ACTUAL)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
August 1, 2017

Study Completion (ACTUAL)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
October 1, 2017

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
July 21, 2016

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 29, 2016

First Posted (ESTIMATE)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 3, 2016

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (ACTUAL)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
October 21, 2019

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 17, 2019

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
October 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • x5tjqsc6

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Study Data/Documents

  1. Study Protocol
    Information comments: 2. Chowdhury, Abeed H., et al. "Effects of Bolus and Continuous Nasogastric Feeding on Gastric Emptying, Small Bowel Water Content, Superior Mesenteric Artery Blood Flow, and Plasma Hormone Concentrations in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Crossover Study." Annals of Surgery (2014).

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