Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine and Department of Community Health and Epidemiology Queen's University Faculty of Health Sciences, Kingston, Ontario. Correspondence to: Dr. DK Heyland, Angada 3, Kingston General Hospital, 76 Stuart Street, Kingston, Ontario K7L 2V7. 613-549-6666#3339(phone). 613-548-2577 (FAX). Dr. Heyland is a Career Scientist of the Ontario Ministry of Health.

Abstract : Synopsis : Providing nutritional support has become a standard component of managing seriously ill patients. While many studies have documented that providing nutrition support can change nutritional outcomes (amino acid profile, weight gain, nitrogen balance, etc.), there are limited data that demonstrate that nutrition support actually influences clinically important endpoints. The purpose of this paper is to systematically review and critically appraise the literature to examine the relationship between nutritional support and morbidity and mortality in the seriously ill patient. As a product of this critical appraisal of the evidence, clinical recommendations based on rules of evidence are put forward. (Journ. of Nutr. Health & Aging 2000; 1: 31-41)