Strength Testing After Nitrate Delivery (STAND) in ICU Patients

Detailed Summary

It is well documented that intensive care unit (ICU) patients have lower levels of skeletal muscle strength compared to non-ICU patients upon hospital discharge, and this weakness affects the patient's ability to perform basic activities of daily living upon hospital discharge and for extended periods thereafter. Recently, critically ill ICU patients have been shown to have lower nitric oxide levels. These patients often suffer from a disturbed homeostasis with circulatory and metabolic abnormalities that may potentially contribute to their ICU acquired weakness. Given the recent research showing dietary nitrate supplementation can increase nitric oxide levels and improve exercise tolerance in healthy and diseased older individuals, our aim is to investigate the importance of nitrate supplementation in ICU patients with focus on physical function and ICU acquired muscle weakness.

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