Post-ICU Patients Fully Enterally FedSTICKYNCT06923813
Assessment of Nutrient Absorption in Enterally Fed Post-intensive Care Unit Patients Using Bomb Calorimetry: do the Calories Stick
A study testing caloric intake measurement, stool sample collection and energy expenditure measurement in people with Post-ICU Patients Fully Enterally Fed, run by Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel at 2 sites in Belgium.
Trial summary
This study focuses on understanding how well patients who have recovered from an ICU stay absorb nutrients when receiving enteral (tube) feeding. Proper nutrition is crucial for recovery, but we don't fully understand how efficiently enteral feeding works in ICU survivors. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Post-ICU Patients Fully Enterally Fed
- What is being tested?
- caloric intake measurement, stool sample collection and energy expenditure measurement
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion, Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 20 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesBelgium
- Study dates
- 8 Jan 2026to 1 Apr 2028
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- age of 18 years or older
- minimum ICU stay of 7 days
- fully dependent on enteral feeding (nasogastric or PEG-tube)
- ability of the patient or representative to understand and sign written informed consent in Dutch, French or English
Who cannot join
- known inflammatory bowel disease
- known malabsorptive gastrointestinal disease
- history of small bowel resection
- concomitant use of serotoninergic or sympathomimetic medications (oa. setrone, tryptans, antidepressants, methylphenidate, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, tramadol)
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Belgium2 sites, 2 recruiting
- Not yet recruiting
UZ Brussel
Brussels
UZ Brussel, 024776001, virgini.vanbuggenhout@uzbrussel.be
- Recruiting
UZ Brussel
Jette, 1090
Maridi Aerts, +3224776011, maridi.aerts@uzbrussel.be
About this study
Official title: Assessment of Nutrient Absorption in Enterally Fed Post-ICU Patients Using Bomb Calorimetry: do the Calories Stick
This study focuses on understanding how well patients who have recovered from an ICU stay absorb nutrients when receiving enteral (tube) feeding. Proper nutrition is crucial for recovery, but we don't fully understand how efficiently enteral feeding works in ICU survivors. The study will use advanced techniques like bomb calorimetry to measure the energy content of stool, and indirect calorimetry to measure patients' resting energy expenditure (REE). This will help assess the effectiveness of enteral feeding in these patients, providing valuable information about their metabolic needs and nutritional status.
The study will also look into the environmental impact of enteral feeding, particularly food waste. By understanding how much of the nutrition is absorbed versus excreted, the study hopes to suggest more sustainable feeding practices and reduce unnecessary waste in hospitals.
Read more
Key Goals:
- Primary Goal: Measure how much energy from enteral feeding is absorbed by patients post-ICU by analyzing their stool and energy expenditure.
- Secondary Goal: Assess how enteral feeding can be made more sustainable, with less waste generated from unused nutritional products.
This research will help improve nutritional care for ICU patients, enhance recovery, and potentially lead to more environmentally friendly healthcare practices.
Read the detailed description
This study investigates the absorption efficiency of enteral nutrition in patients recovering from an intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Nutritional support is critical in the recovery of ICU patients, and enteral feeding is commonly used due to its benefits in preserving gut integrity and reducing infection risks. However, there is limited data on the actual absorption of nutrients in these patients, particularly in terms of how much of the provided energy is utilized versus excreted.
The primary focus of this study is to quantify the caloric intake and the caloric content of excreted stool to determine the efficiency of nutrient absorption in post-ICU patients. This will be done using bomb calorimetry, which measures the energy content in stool samples, and indirect calorimetry to assess the patients' resting energy expenditure (REE).
The study design is prospective, interventional, and single-center, involving 20 post-ICU patients who meet the inclusion criteria. Detailed tracking of caloric intake, including both enteral feeding and supplemental infusion calories, will be performed daily. Stool samples will be collected for three days, with the nonabsorbable blue dye marker method used to track the specific stool produced during this period. These stool samples will be freeze-dried, formed into pellets, and analyzed using the Parr 6200 Isoperibol Calorimeter to measure their energy content.
The secondary objective is to evaluate the sustainability of enteral feeding practices by assessing the amount of waste generated, such as unused nutritional formulas and tubing. This includes quantifying food waste in the hospital, focusing on nutrition that is not consumed, absorbed, or excreted.
By understanding the actual energy absorption in ICU survivors, this study aims to provide insights that will optimize nutritional strategies, improve patient recovery, and contribute to cost-effective, environmentally sustainable healthcare practices.
- Conditions
- Post-ICU Patients Fully Enterally Fed
- Being tested
- caloric intake measurement, stool sample collection, energy expenditure measurement
- Keywords
- PEG tube, indirect calorimetry, nasogastric
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
caloric intake measurementOther
Detailed daily tracking of the enteral feeding provided to each patient, inclusing the type and amount of nutritional formula administered. Apart from the enteral intake, supplemental calories provided by infusion (e.g. glucose) will be recorded to ensure accurate measurement of caloric intake.
stool sample collectionProcedure or surgery
- a nonabsorbable blue dye marker will be administered at the start and end of the stool collection period to precisely indentify the stool produced within a specific time frame.
- stool will be collected for three days. Each sample will be collected, weighted and labeled with the date and time, then stored at -20°C.
- only stool samples from the appearance of the first dye marker to the appearance of the second dye marker will be saved and analyzed.
- bomb calorimetry preparation
- blending and dilution: each stool sample will be put into a blender and mixed with an equal amount of water
- freeze dying: the diluted stool will be placed into freeze-dye flasks and frozen at -20°C. The next day, the flasks will be placed into a freeze dryer for 48hours.
- pellet formation: the freeze-dried samples will be formed into 1-gram pellets and stored until calorimetry
- calorimetry analysis: the Parr 6200 isoperibol calorimeter will be used to measure the energy content of the stool pellets
energy expenditure measurementOther
performing indirect calorimetry to measure the REE of each patient
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Participants | Experimental | 20 post-ICU patients who are fully enterally fed (PEG- or nasogastric tube). Step-by-Step Process: Every time a patient is included, all steps (caloric intake measurement, stool sample collection, blending, freezing, and freeze drying) will be performed sequentially. Bomb Calorimetry can be conducted either systematicallyfor a few patients at a time or all at once after all samples have been collected. Receives: Other: caloric intake measurement; Procedure: stool sample collection; Other: energy expenditure measurement |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
caloric absorption efficiency
the caloric intake from enteral feeding will be compared with the caloric content of the excreted stool. The difference between these two values will provide an estimate of how efficiently the body absorbs the administered nutrients.
Measured: From screening to study completion for the patient, on average 3 days
Resting Energy Expenditure (REE)
The study will measure the resting energy expenditure of post-ICU patients using indirect calorimetry, which provides a real-time measure of the patients' basal metabolic rate and energy needs.
Measured: From screening to study completion for the patient, on average 3 days
Secondary outcomes (3)
Nutrient Absorption Efficiency
The proportion of the enteral nutrition that is absorbed by the patient will be compared to the total amount administered. A higher absorption efficiency would suggest less wasted nutrition and better utilization of the enteral feeding.
Measured: From screening to study completion for the patient, on average 3 days
Waste Generation from Enteral Feeding Solutions and Tubing
The study will evaluate the quantity of waste produced from the daily replacement of enteral feeding solutions and tubing. This measure will provide insight into the sustainability impact of current practices and how much material is being discarded in hospital settings.
Measured: From screening to study completion for the patient, on average 3 days
Overall Food Waste in Hospitals
The study will quantify the amount of enteral nutrition that is not consumed, absorbed, or excreted. This includes any nutrition that is wasted due to feeding inefficiencies or patient non-consumption.
Measured: From screening to study completion for the patient, on average 3 days
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted11 Apr 2025
- Study start8 Jan 2026
- Primary completion1 Apr 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Apr 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Post-ICU Patients Fully Enterally FedStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Universitair Ziekenhuis BrusselThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- 20 post-ICU patients who are fully enterally fed (PEG- or nasogastric tube)
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Société des Produits Nestlé (SPN)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06923813
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- STICKY
- Acronym
- STICKY
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 28 Mar 2025
- Last updated
- 1 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 1 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Assessment of Nutrient Absorption in Enterally Fed Post-ICU Patients Using Bomb Calorimetry: do the Calories Stick
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06923813
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- STICKY / STICKY
- Conditions
- Post-ICU Patients Fully Enterally Fed
- Keywords
- PEG tube, indirect calorimetry, nasogastric
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Universitair Ziekenhuis BrusselUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Société des Produits Nestlé (SPN)
- Study start
- 8 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Apr 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Apr 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 11 Apr 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study focuses on understanding how well patients who have recovered from an ICU stay absorb nutrients when receiving enteral (tube) feeding. Proper nutrition is crucial for recovery, but we don't fully understand how efficiently enteral feeding works in ICU survivors. The study will use advanced techniques like bomb calorimetry to measure the energy content of stool, and indirect calorimetry to measure patients' resting energy expenditure (REE). This will help assess the effectiveness of enteral feeding in these patients, providing valuable information about their metabolic needs and nutritional status.
The study will also look into the environmental impact of enteral feeding, particularly food waste. By understanding how much of the nutrition is absorbed versus excreted, the study hopes to suggest more sustainable feeding practices and reduce unnecessary waste in hospitals.
Key Goals:
- Primary Goal: Measure how much energy from enteral feeding is absorbed by patients post-ICU by analyzing their stool and energy expenditure.
- Secondary Goal: Assess how enteral feeding can be made more sustainable, with less waste generated from unused nutritional products.
This research will help improve nutritional care for ICU patients, enhance recovery, and potentially lead to more environmentally friendly healthcare practices.
Detailed description
This study investigates the absorption efficiency of enteral nutrition in patients recovering from an intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Nutritional support is critical in the recovery of ICU patients, and enteral feeding is commonly used due to its benefits in preserving gut integrity and reducing infection risks. However, there is limited data on the actual absorption of nutrients in these patients, particularly in terms of how much of the provided energy is utilized versus excreted.
The primary focus of this study is to quantify the caloric intake and the caloric content of excreted stool to determine the efficiency of nutrient absorption in post-ICU patients. This will be done using bomb calorimetry, which measures the energy content in stool samples, and indirect calorimetry to assess the patients' resting energy expenditure (REE).
The study design is prospective, interventional, and single-center, involving 20 post-ICU patients who meet the inclusion criteria. Detailed tracking of caloric intake, including both enteral feeding and supplemental infusion calories, will be performed daily. Stool samples will be collected for three days, with the nonabsorbable blue dye marker method used to track the specific stool produced during this period. These stool samples will be freeze-dried, formed into pellets, and analyzed using the Parr 6200 Isoperibol Calorimeter to measure their energy content.
The secondary objective is to evaluate the sustainability of enteral feeding practices by assessing the amount of waste generated, such as unused nutritional formulas and tubing. This includes quantifying food waste in the hospital, focusing on nutrition that is not consumed, absorbed, or excreted.
By understanding the actual energy absorption in ICU survivors, this study aims to provide insights that will optimize nutritional strategies, improve patient recovery, and contribute to cost-effective, environmentally sustainable healthcare practices.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- 20 post-ICU patients who are fully enterally fed (PEG- or nasogastric tube)
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Participants | Experimental | Other: caloric intake measurement, Procedure: stool sample collection, Other: energy expenditure measurement20 post-ICU patients who are fully enterally fed (PEG- or nasogastric tube). Step-by-Step Process: Every time a patient is included, all steps (caloric intake measurement, stool sample collection, blending, freezing, and freeze drying) will be performed sequentially. Bomb Calorimetry can be conducted either systematicallyfor a few patients at a time or all at once after all samples have been collected. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- age of 18 years or older
- minimum ICU stay of 7 days
- fully dependent on enteral feeding (nasogastric or PEG-tube)
- ability of the patient or representative to understand and sign written informed consent in Dutch, French or English
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- known inflammatory bowel disease
- known malabsorptive gastrointestinal disease
- history of small bowel resection
- concomitant use of serotoninergic or sympathomimetic medications (oa. setrone, tryptans, antidepressants, methylphenidate, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, tramadol)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| caloric intake measurementDetailed daily tracking of the enteral feeding provided to each patient, inclusing the type and amount of nutritional formula administered. Apart from the enteral intake, supplemental calories provided by infusion (e.g. glucose) will be recorded to ensure accurate measurement of caloric intake. | Other | Participants |
| stool sample collection* a nonabsorbable blue dye marker will be administered at the start and end of the stool collection period to precisely indentify the stool produced within a specific time frame. * stool will be collected for three days. Each sample will be collected, weighted and labeled with the date and time, then stored at -20°C. * only stool samples from the appearance of the first dye marker to the appearance of the second dye marker will be saved and analyzed. * bomb calorimetry preparation * blending and dilution: each stool sample will be put into a blender and mixed with an equal amount of water * freeze dying: the diluted stool will be placed into freeze-dye flasks and frozen at -20°C. The next day, the flasks will be placed into a freeze dryer for 48hours. * pellet formation: the freeze-dried samples will be formed into 1-gram pellets and stored until calorimetry * calorimetry analysis: the Parr 6200 isoperibol calorimeter will be used to measure the energy content of the stool pellets | Procedure or surgery | Participants |
| energy expenditure measurementperforming indirect calorimetry to measure the REE of each patient | Other | Participants |
Primary outcome
caloric absorption efficiency
Time frame: From screening to study completion for the patient, on average 3 days
the caloric intake from enteral feeding will be compared with the caloric content of the excreted stool. The difference between these two values will provide an estimate of how efficiently the body absorbs the administered nutrients.
Resting Energy Expenditure (REE)
Time frame: From screening to study completion for the patient, on average 3 days
The study will measure the resting energy expenditure of post-ICU patients using indirect calorimetry, which provides a real-time measure of the patients' basal metabolic rate and energy needs.
3 secondary outcomes
Nutrient Absorption Efficiency
Time frame: From screening to study completion for the patient, on average 3 days
Waste Generation from Enteral Feeding Solutions and Tubing
Time frame: From screening to study completion for the patient, on average 3 days
Overall Food Waste in Hospitals
Time frame: From screening to study completion for the patient, on average 3 days
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 1 May 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing caloric intake measurement, stool sample collection and energy expenditure measurement in people with Post-ICU Patients Fully Enterally Fed, run by Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel at 2 sites in Belgium.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in Belgium. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Elisabeth De Waele (02476 3354, Elisabeth.DeWaele@uzbrussel.be), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
caloric absorption efficiency (time frame: From screening to study completion for the patient, on average 3 days). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 1 May 2026.