Introduction: The association between nutritional status and protein-calorie adequacy in critically ill patients hospitalized in an intensive care unit was evaluated, using exclusive enteral nutritional therapy. Methods: Cross-sectional study of quantitative nature, carried out in a hospital intensive care unit in Guarapuava, PR, Brazil. Patients over 18 years old, of both sexes, on exclusive enteral nutrition therapy were included. Evaluation took place in the first 24 hours and after 72 hours of starting nutritional therapy. To assess nutritional status, body mass index, calf circumference classification, tetrapolar electrical bioimpedance and biochemical tests were used. In the assessment of protein-caloric adequacy, collections of the prescribed and administered volume were used. Descriptive statistics tests were performed using means, standard deviation, and relative and absolute frequencies in the SPSS version 25. Results: The sample consisted of 16 patients, with a mean age of 56.5±17.3. Most (75%) patients were men. According to BMI, 50% presented eutrophy, and, according to calf circumference, 68.8% presented muscle mass loss. There was no statistical difference in the analysis of body composition and phase angle between 24 and 72 hours. The nutritional recommendation needs of caloric adequacy of ≥80% were achieved by two patients, and for protein adequacy, only 3 reached the milestone of ≥80%. Conclusion: Although the correlations do not show a direct association with clinical outcome, it is concluded that protein-caloric inadequacy leads to a worsening in patients’ general condition, increasing chances of developing malnutrition, negatively influencing hospital clinical outcome.