Introduction: Caloric protein malnutrition is prevalent in critically ill patients. This can be aggravated by an inadequate supply of enteral nutrition. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate nutritional adequacy and to identify the most frequent barriers to its administration. Methods: A longitudinalstudy was performed between June and December 2017 at the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital in the South of Santa Catarina, approved under the protocol 2.274.728. Patients ≥ 18 years, in enteral nutrition therapy (ENT) for ≥72 hours were included. Socio-demographic data, ICU length of stay and nutrition therapy and laboratory tests were collected. Results: Among the patients in the unit, 147 were evaluated. Of these, 78.9% received ≥70% of the prescribed diet and 36.1% (n=53) started the EN only after ICU admission, with median onset of 20 (13-33) hours. The main reason for interruption of NET was fasting for procedures in 37.4% (n=55) of the patients analyzed. Nutritional inadequacy was associated with the presence of vomiting (p=0.012) and abdominal distension (p=0,009), such as shorter use of ENT (p=0.017) and longer time to ENT (p=0,046). Conclusions: The early start of the ENT is in line with what is recommended by the guidelines. The most prevalent nutritional barrier was fasting for procedures. The presence of some gastrointestinal symptoms, such as vomiting and abdominal distention, shorter time to ENT and longer time to start of ENT appear to be associated with protein calorie inadequacy.