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A Multicenter Clinical Study on Protein Absorption Efficiency in Patients With Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency in the ICU

Comparison of Protein Absorption Efficiency Between Peptide and Whole Protein Enteral Nutrition Preparations in High-risk Groups With Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency in the ICU

Status
Not yet recruiting
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07709611
Enrollment
250
Registered
2026-07-16
Start date
2026-07-01
Completion date
2027-12-31
Last updated
2026-07-16

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Enteral Nutrition Feeding, High-risk Patients With Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency

Keywords

Pancreatic exocrine Insufficiency, Enteral nutrition, Peptide-based, Absorption efficiency

Brief summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to systematically evaluate whether peptide-type enteral nutrition (EN) formulations improve protein uptake efficiency in high-risk groups at ICU PEI, using targeted amino acid metabolomics and gut microbiota co-metabolomics as core quantitative indicators. Researchers will compare protein absorption efficiency of short-chain peptide and complete protein enteral nutrition formulas in high-risk populations for PEI in the ICU Participants will: Enteral nutrition was administered for ICU critically ill patients with high-risk factors for PEI

Detailed description

The study subjects that meet the inclusion criteria will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the peptide group and the whole protein group according to the following allocation scheme: 1. Peptide Group: Receives nutritional support therapy with a peptide-based enteral nutrition (EN) formulation. The selected formulation must contain 5 g of protein per 100 ml and be composed entirely of hydrolyzed whey protein, which can be absorbed by the intestine without the need for thorough digestion by pancreatic enzymes. 2. Whole Protein Group: Receives nutritional support therapy with a whole protein-based EN formulation. The selected formulation also contains 5 g of protein per 100 ml and consists of intact protein components, which require digestion and breakdown by pancreatic enzymes before being absorbed. Both groups of study subjects will strictly follow the 2025 ASPEN Guidelines for Nutritional Therapy in Critically Ill Patients and the relevant expert consensus on critical care nutrition in China. Apart from the difference in the type of EN formulation, all other treatment measures (including anti-infection therapy, organ function support, gastrointestinal motility regulation, sedation and analgesia) will be carried out in accordance with standard ICU clinical practices to ensure consistency in the baseline treatment conditions between the two groups.

Interventions

Short peptide EN preparations were administered for nutritional support

DRUGProtein

Nutritional support therapy was administered with protein-type EN preparations

Sponsors

Shanghai 10th People's Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)

Intervention model description

Subjects meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to either the short peptide group and the whole protein group according to a 1:1 randomization scheme. The specific grouping scheme is as follows: 1) Short peptide group: Short peptide EN preparations are given for nutritional support therapy, with a protein content of 5 g/100ml and 100% hydrolyzed whey protein, which can be absorbed by the intestines without sufficient pancreatic enzyme digestion; 2) Protein group: Provided protein-type EN preparations for nutritional support, with a protein content of 5 g/100 ml, all complete protein components, relying on pancreatic enzymes secreted for digestion and absorption.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Age≥ 18 years old, no gender restriction; * Meet the criteria for high-risk groups for PEI; * AGI≤ Class II, hemodynamically stable, meeting EN initiation criteria; * Estimated duration of enteral nutrition support therapy: ≥7 days; * The subject or their legally authorized family member must sign the informed consent form

Exclusion criteria

* Patients who have been clearly diagnosed with PEI or chronic persistent PEI; * Patients who have contraindications to enteral nutrition therapy; * Patients with severely impaired liver or kidney function; * Patients who suffer from amino acid metabolism disorders, severe malnutrition, or cachexia; * Patients who have received pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy or taken any medications that may affect protein absorption within 7 days prior to enrollment; * Patients for whom the expected length of ICU stay is less than 7 days; * Pregnant or lactating women, as well as patients with mental illnesses; * Patients who are allergic to any component of the study medication.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Branched-chain amino acid concentrationWeek 1
Citrulline concentrationWeek 1
Urine 3-methylhistidine concentrationWeek 1

Secondary

MeasureTime frame
Fecal elastase-1Week 1
Serum pancreatic lipase levelsWeek 1
Serum pancreatic amylase levelsWeek 1
Plasma diamine oxidase levelsWeek 1
Plasma D-lactate levelWeek 1
P-cresol content in fecesWeek 1
Indole content in fecesWeek 1
Ultrasound is used to detect the thickness of the rectus femoris and assess the degree of muscle attenuationWeek 2
28-day all-cause mortalityWeek 4

Countries

China

Contacts

CONTACTSheng Wang
wangsheng@tongji.edu.cn+8613641715292

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Jul 17, 2026