Prevention of malnutrition in older people during and after hospitalisation: results from a randomised controlled clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
to prevent the occurrence of weight loss during hospitalisation and following discharge by daily oral supplementation.


METHODS
in a prospective, randomised, controlled study of 80 patients aged 75 or more, and at risk of undernutrition based on their initial Mini Nutritional Assessment score, patients were randomised into a control group or one receiving oral supplementation. The intervention was a prescription of 200 ml sweet or salty sip feed twice daily (500 kcal, 21 g protein per day) throughout hospitalisation and convalescence. Nutritional status was assessed at baseline and after 2 months using Mini Nutritional Assessment and body weight record.


RESULTS
compliance with oral supplementation was good and daily extra energy intake was 407+/-184 kcal. On day 60, significant weight loss from upon admission was observed in the control group (-1.23+/-2.5 kg; P=0.01), but not in the supplemented group (0.28+/-3.8 kg; NS). At the end of the study, Mini Nutritional Assessment scores were higher in the supplemented group than in the control group (23.5+/-3.9 versus 20.8+/-3.6; P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
use of daily oral supplementation during and after hospitalisation maintains body weight and increases Mini Nutritional Assessment score in patients at risk of undernutrition.
Gazzotti
Claire
C
Service de gériatrie CHR Citadelle, Liège, Belgium. claire.gazzotti@chrcitadelle.be
Arnaud-Battandier
Franck
F
Parello
Maria
M
Farine
Sylvie
S
Seidel
Laurence
L
Albert
Adelin
A
Petermans
Jean
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015431:Weight Loss