Thank you for your letter and interest in sleep deprivation in the intensive care unit (ICU). Your experience and insight regarding complex care of ICU patients and the effects of sleep deprivation are greatly appreciated. As you mentioned, nutritional needs in critically ill patients can vary.1  Several studies have been dedicated to examining nutritional support in critically ill patients. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of evidence regarding the role nutrition plays in sleep. Additionally, the use of multivitamins to promote sleep has not been well studied. In fact, the routine use of multivitamin and multimineral supplementation (MVM) remains a source of controversy.2  Multivitamin and multimineral supplementation is recommended when a patient is deemed at risk for compromised nutritional status.3  Many ICU patients meet criteria for MVM use, and almost all critically ill patients experience sleep deprivation. Understanding the role of nutrition and the effects of MVM is...

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