Study of Early Enteral Dextrose in Sepsis

This study is a prospective single-center randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial testing the effects of early enteral dextrose as a therapeutic agent in critically ill patients with sepsis. Primary outcomes are differences in circulating plasma levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 to be tested 24 hours after the start of enteral infusion. Secondary outcomes include differences in circulating incretin hormone levels, differences in other pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β and TNF-α, changes in intestinal microbial composition and function after intervention, glycemic control and variability as assessed by capillary blood glucose measurements and exogenous insulin dosing during the intervention period, and clinical outcomes including intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay and in-hospital mortality.