Comparison of Continuous Feeding and Sequential Feeding on Gut Microbiota and Metabolomics in Critically Ill Patients

At the beginning, all the patients received continuous feeding. After achieving ≥80% of the nutrition target calories (25-30 kcal/kg/d) through continuous feeding, the patients were randomly assigned into the sequential feeding (SF) group or the continuous feeding (CF) group with a random number table. Patients in the CF group received continuous feeding with constant velocity by enteral feeding pump over one day.

At the beginning, all the patients received continuous feeding. After achieving ≥80% of the nutrition target calories (25-30 kcal/kg/d) through continuous feeding, the patients were randomly assigned into the sequential feeding (SF) group or the continuous feeding (CF) group with a random number table. In the SF group, continuous feeding was changed into time-restricted feeding. The total daily dosage of enteral nutrition was equally distributed during three time periods at 7-9:00, 11-13:00 and 17-19:00. Other times of the day were fasting times. Enteral nutritional suspension in each time period was administered at a uniform rate within two hours by an enteral feeding pump.