Table 2 Characteristics of the trials included in this review (n = 10).

Brinson et al.³¹,

Medical and surgical ICU patients

Multicentre

Primary AGI and Secondary AGI

Peptide enteral formula (n = 7) vs standard enteral formula (n = 5)

Calorie: 35 kcal/kg/d

Continuous feeding

The incidence of diarrhea was lower in the Peptide enteral formula group

(United States)

Start time: NA

Protein: NR

Initial rate: 20 ml/h

Duration: ≥ 14 d

Meredith et al.³², (United States)

Trauma patients in ICU

Single-centre

Primary AGI and Secondary AGI

Peptide-based formula (n = 9) vs intact-protein formula (n = 9)

Calorie: according to Harris-benedict equation

Continuous feeding

The incidence of diarrhea was lower in the Peptide-based formula group

Start time: Within 24–48 h after ICU admission

Protein: NR

Initial rate: 25 ml/h

Duration: ≥ 7 d

Mowatt-Larssen et al.³³, (United States)

Critically ill patients with acute injury and albumin < 30 g/dL

Single-centre

Primary AGI and Secondary AGI

Peptide formula (n = 21) vs standard enteral formula(n = 20)

Calorie: 35 kcal/kg/d

Continuous feeding

Prevalence of diarrhea and elevated gastric residuals were similar between groups

Start time: NR

Protein: NR

Initial rate: 25–50 ml/h

Duration: ≥ 5 d

Heimburger et al.³⁴, (United States and United Kingdom)

Adult critically ill patients in ICU

Multicentre

Primary AGI and Secondary AGI

Small-peptide formula (n = 26) vs whole-protein formula(n = 24)

NR

Continuous feeding?

Serum prealbumin and fibronectin increased more significantly in the small-peptide group

Start time: NR

Initial rate: NA

Duration: ≥ 5 d

Tiengou et al.³⁵, (France)

ICU patients with acute pancreatitis requiring jejunal nutrition

Single-centre

Primary AGI

Semi-elemental formula (n = 15) vs polymeric formula(n = 15)

Calorie: 35 kcal/kg/d

Continuous feeding ≥ 18 h per day

There was no difference in nutrient tolerance between the two groups

Start time: Within 24 h of jejunal tube placement

Protein: 1.5 g/kg/d

Initial rate: 20.8–27.8 ml/h

Duration: ≥ 7 d

de Aguilar-Nascimento et al.³⁶, (Brazil)

Elderly patients admitted to ICU due to acute ischemic stroke

Single-centre

Only secondary AGI

Hydrolysed whey protein formula (n = 10) vs standard formula(n = 15)

Calorie: 35 kcal/kg/d

Continuous feeding

Mortality was similar between groups

Start time: ≤ 48 h after ICU admission

Protein: 1.2 g/kg/d

Initial rate: 20 ml/h

Duration: ≥ 5 d

Jakob et al.³⁷, (Switzerland)

Medical and surgical ICU patients expected ICU stay ≥ 5 days and EN ≥ 3 days

Single-centre

Primary AGI and Secondary AGI

Semi-elemental formula (n = 46) vs whole-protein formula (n = 44)

Calorie: 25 kcal/kg/d

Continuous feeding

Incidence of diarrhea was similar between groups

Start time: ≤ 72 h after ICU admission

Protein: NR

Initial rate: NA

Duration: ≥ 3 d

Rice et al.³⁸, (United States and Canada)

Overweight/obese mechanically ventilated critically ill patients

Multicentre

Only secondary AGI

High-whey peptides formula (n = 50) vs standard polymeric protein formula (n = 52)

Calorie: NR

Continuous feeding

High-whey peptides formula group can reduce hyperglycemic events

Start time: ≤ 48 h after ICU admission

Protein: 1.5 g/kg/d

Initial rate: NA

Duration: ≥ 5 d

Carteron et al.³⁹, (France)

Brain-injured critically ill patients expected to

be ventilated > 48 h

Single-centre

Only secondary AGI

Semi-elemental formula (n = 100) vs polymeric formula (n = 95)

Calorie: 30 kcal/kg/d

Continuous feeding

Energy intake goal achievement rate was similar between groups

Start time: ≤ 36 h after ICU admission

Protein: NR

Initial rate: 21 ml/h

Duration: NR

de Brito-Ashurst et al.⁴⁰, (United Kingdom)

Mechanically ventilated patients expected to require EN starting within 48 h

Multicentre

Only secondary AGI

The new peptide formula (n = 13) vs standard formula (n = 13)

Calorie: 25 kcal/kg/d

Continuous feeding

Gastrointestinal tolerance was similar between groups

Start time: ≤ 48 h after ICU admission

Protein: NR

Initial rate: 20 mL/h Duration: ≥ 5 d