Table 4 Fecal composition and energy, fat, protein, and carbohydrate absorption capacity for ICU patients with normal stools and with diarrhea

Fecal composition

FWW (g/day)

157 ± 79

796 ± 942

< 0.001

Percentage of dry weight (%)

17.6 ± 5.8

13.5 ± 4.8

0.047

F _Energy (kcal/day)

146.4 ± 86.7

445.5 ± 201.3

< 0.001

Energy wet feces (kcal/g)

0.97 ± 0.36

0.78 ± 0.37

0.135

Energy dry feces (kcal/g)

5.49 ± 0.69

5.59 ± 1.09

0.720

F _Fat (g/day)

2.4 ± 2.6

11.4 ± 14.3

< 0.001

F _Nitrogen (g/day)

0.9 ± 0.5^a

2.6 ± 1.1^b

< 0.001

F _Protein (g/day)

5.6 ± 3.1^a

16.2 ± 7.1^b

< 0.001

F _Carbohydrate (g/day)

24.1 ± 17.7^a

52.1 ± 18.9^b

0.003

Absorption capacity

Energy absorption (%)

93.1 ± 4.1

76.5 ± 10.6

< 0.001

Fat absorption (%)

96.8 ± 3.3

84.7 ± 17.2

< 0.001

Protein absorption (%)

93.6 ± 3.8^a

82.5 ± 7.2^b

< 0.001

Carbohydrate absorption (%)

89.6 ± 6.7^a

74.5 ± 12.9^b

< 0.001