Table 1.

Inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Inclusion criteria

∙Age ≥ 18 years at the time of giving informed consent. ∙Clinical diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke within 7 days from onset. ∙Patients who can be randomized within 72 h from admission. ∙Patients who have difficulty with oral intake are defined as severely altered consciousness (JCS 10–300) or modified water swallowing test <4. ∙Patients who can raise their head more than 30 degrees. ∙Written informed consent by the patient or next of kin.

Exclusion criteria

∙Obstructive diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. ∙Pregnancy or possibility of pregnancy. ∙patients with an expected life expectancy of 90 days or less. ∙Patients who are deemed by the investigator or sub-investigator to be unsuitable for participation in this study.

JCS, Japan Coma Scale.