Advances of nutritional support therapy in critical illness

In recent years, the scientific literatures have revealed exponential advances in the understanding of molecular basis of nutritional support therapy and evolution of clinical protocols aimed at treating artificial nutritional support as a therapeutic intervention, preventing loss of lean body mass and metabolic deterioration to improve clinical outcomes in the critical illness. According to the evidence-based medicine, this review will summarize recent findings, highlight areas of consensus and controversy and define priorities for further researches. Key words: Critical illness; Nutritional support therapy; Parenteral nutrition; Enteral nutrition; Supplemental parenteral nutrition