Which statement defines cyclic feedings?

Which statement defines cyclic feedings?

• A. Delivered over 24 hours continuously
• B. Generally administered over 8-16 hours per day
• C. In bolus 250-480 mL over 15 minutes
• D. 240-480 mL over 45 minutes several times daily

Answer: (B)

Cyclic feeding delivers enteral nutrition in a defined daily window rather than around the clock. In practice, the feeding pump runs for a substantial portion of the day—commonly overnight—so the total daily volume is given within that single window and the patient has a daily fasting period. This daily, limited-window pattern is what the correct statement captures: the feed is administered over a period within a 24-hour day, often overnight. It’s different from continuous 24-hour feeding, which would be truly around-the-clock, and different from bolus or intermittent bolus feeds, which deliver small amounts at discrete times. So the defining idea is a daily feeding period shorter than 24 hours, typically overnight, matching the statement about administering the nutrition over a defined daily window.

Cyclic feeding delivers enteral nutrition in a defined daily window rather than around the clock. In practice, the feeding pump runs for a substantial portion of the day—commonly overnight—so the total daily volume is given within that single window and the patient has a daily fasting period.

This daily, limited-window pattern is what the correct statement captures: the feed is administered over a period within a 24-hour day, often overnight. It’s different from continuous 24-hour feeding, which would be truly around-the-clock, and different from bolus or intermittent bolus feeds, which deliver small amounts at discrete times.

So the defining idea is a daily feeding period shorter than 24 hours, typically overnight, matching the statement about administering the nutrition over a defined daily window.