ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) is frequent among ICU survivors and negatively affects both short and long term outcomes. ICU-AW is the consequence of the body's reserves being depleted during critical illness and results in severe skeletal muscle wasting during the first week of ICU admission.Therefore, measures aimed at preserving muscle mass during critical illness and improving recovery after ICU discharge are urgently needed.~Retrospective observational cohort studies suggest that the administration of high protein nutrition is associated with improved survival and outcome. Current ICU guidelines recommend dietary protein delivery at 1.3 g/kg/day (ESPEN), or even up to 2.0 g/kg/day (ASPEN). However, strong prospective clinical evidence on the effectiveness and safety of high enteral protein delivery is lacking and urgently awaited. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of high versus standard protein provision on the functional recovery of critically ill patients.~The focus on functional, patient-centered outcomes rather than traditional clinical endpoints like mortality is an important aspect and strength of the study. Previous nutritional intervention studies focusing primarily on improving mortality have repeatedly shown no effect. Therefore, it is nowadays increasingly recognized to move primary ICU trial endpoints away from classical outcomes, such as survival or length of stay, towards more functional outcomes, in line with the underlying pathophysiology.
Rapid skeletal muscle wasting during critical illness had a detrimental impact on both short and long term outcomes following ICU admission. Increased dietary protein delivery might attenuate skeletal muscle wasting and its subsequent effects on post-ICU function.~The investigators will conduct a 935 patient, randomised controlled, quadruple blinded parallel group trial to determine whether enteral nutrition with increased protein content in mechanically ventilated, critically ill patients is able to improve functional recovery.