C-reactive protein rise in response to macronutrient deficit early in critical illness: sign of inflammation or mediator of infection prevention and recovery.

The higher CRP rise with late-PN, explained by the early macronutrient deficits, did not relate to cytokine responses and thus did not reflect more systemic inflammation. Instead of mediating clinical benefit on infection or recovery, the accentuated CRP rise appeared an adverse effect reducing such late-PN benefits.