With the advent of the feeding pump, default enteral nutrition schedules in many medical intensive care units has shifted from intermittent or bolus feeding to continuous feeds.

Clinical studies suggest that each of these strategies of providing nutrition is safe for patients with no significant difference in glycemic control or adverse effects.

There is also data to suggest that approximating a more physiologic nutrition schedule with periods of feeding and periods of fasting may optimize gastrointestinal and metabolic hormonal feedback loops thereby affecting outcomes such as gastrointestinal motility, protein synthesis, and glycemic control, among others.

Circadian rhythm research supports a temporally restricted period of feeding as well.

Furthermore, periods of scheduled fasting will allow for provision of care that is incompatible with enteral feeds, without interrupting administration of nutrition.

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