Are oral nutritional supplements of benefit to patients in the community? Findings from a systematic review

[A real-world study to evaluate adherence and flavor of a high-protein hypercaloric oral nutritional supplement in patients with malnutrition in a hospital]

AIM

the objective of our real-life study was to evaluate adherence and taste preferences of a hypercaloric and hyperprotein oral nutritional supplement (ONS) in malnourished hospitalized patients.

METHODS

a total of 34 in patients with recent weight loss were included in this study. One flavor (coffe, vanilla or strawberry) was administered each day in a random way to each patient during three consecutive days. In the first three days, patients were asked to fulfill two questionnaires intended to reflect ONS (Renutryl®) tolerance and acceptance. Adherence to the ONS was measured during hospital stay.

RESULTS

the sweet flavor was higher for strawberry (4.54 ± 0.2 points) than for the vanilla flavor (3.13 ± 0.1 points; p < 0.03) and coffee flavor (3.03 ± 0.1 points; p <0.02). When analyzing the total number of patients who took supplements after choosing the flavor, the patients who chose coffee took a total of 13.3 ± 1.1 packages on average during hospitalization (0.91 ± 0.2 per day), the patients who chose strawberry took 13.4 ± 1.3 packages (0.92 ± 0.1 per day), and finally the patients who chose vanilla packages took 8.3 ± 0, 9 packages during admission (0.61 ± 0.1 per day), with significant differences in favor of the strawberry and coffee flavors versus vanilla. The ONS chosen mostly by the patients at hospital discharge was the multiflavor pack (n = 20; 50 %).

CONCLUSIONS

taste preferences for the three flavored ONSs are similar, although adherence was higher during admission to the coffee- and strawberry-flavored ONS. Sweetness may have influenced this finding, especially with the strawberry flavor, with a good tolerance of all three flavors.

Energy-dense, low-volume paediatric oral nutritional supplements improve total nutrient intake and increase growth in paediatric patients requiring nutritional support: results of a randomised controlled pilot trial

Children with or at risk of faltering growth require nutritional support and are often prescribed oral nutritional supplements (ONS). This randomised controlled trial investigated the effects of energy-dense paediatric ONS (2.4 kcal/ml, 125 ml: cONS) versus 1.5 kcal/ml, 200 ml ONS (sONS) in community-based paediatric patients requiring oral nutritional support. Fifty-one patients (mean age 5.8 years (SD 3)) with faltering growth and/or requiring ONS to meet their nutritional requirements were randomised to cONS (n = 27) or sONS (n = 24) for 28 days. Nutrient intake, growth, ONS compliance and acceptability, appetite and gastro-intestinal tolerance were assessed. Use of the cONS resulted in significantly greater mean total daily energy (+ 531 kcal/day), protein (+ 10.1 g/day) and key micronutrient intakes compared with the sONS group at day 28 and over time, due to high ONS compliance (81% of patients ≥ 75%), maintained intake from diet alone and improved appetite in the cONS group, compared with the sONS group. Although growth increased in both intervention groups, results were significant in the cONS group (weight (p = 0.007), height (p < 0.001) and height z-score (p = 0.006)).Conclusions: This study shows that use of energy-dense (2.4 kcal/ml) low-volume paediatric-specific ONS leads to improved nutrient intakes, growth and appetite in paediatric patients requiring oral nutrition support compared with standard energy density ONS.Trial registration: The trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov , identification number NCT02419599. What is Known: • Faltering growth is the failure of children to achieve adequate growth at a normal rate for their age and requires nutritional support, including the use of oral nutritional supplements (ONS). • Energy-dense, low-volume ONS have benefits over standard ONS in adults. What is New: • This is the first RCT to investigate the effects of energy-dense, low-volume ONS (2.4 kcal/ml, 125 ml) in children with faltering growth, showing significant improvements in total nutrient intake and increased growth. • Energy-dense, low-volume ONS can play a key role in the management of faltering growth.

AdNut study: effectiveness of a high calorie and protein oral nutritional supplement with β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate in an older malnourished population in usual clinical practice

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of a high calorie and protein, β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate containing oral nutritional supplement (HP-HMB-ONS), on nutritional status, activities of daily living and quality of life (QoL) in old malnourished subjects.

Methods

We conducted an observational, prospective, open label, multicenter study. Participants were > 65 years, undernourished or at nutritional risk [Nutrition Risk Score (NRS) ≥ 3] and had been included on an ONS (HP-HMB-ONS twice daily for 12 weeks) per standard of care. Visits at baseline (V1), 6 weeks (V2) and 12 weeks (V3) were performed. The primary endpoints were gain of body weight, change in body mass index (BMI) and NRS 2002 index. Data from QoL (EQ-5D-3L) and activities of daily living (Katz index) were also collected.

Results

A total of 235 participants were included in the study. Of these 148 took at least a 75% of the HP-HMB-ONS and were included in the analysis (per protocol); median age was 80.0 (SD:8.3) years, 65.5% (n = 97) were female, 67.6% (n = 100) had 2 or more diseases. At V3, a statistically significant increase in weight (2.1 kg; SD: 3.8) (p < 0.001) and BMI (0.8 kg/m²; SD: 1.45) were found compared to V1, whereas NRS 2002 values decreased by 0.9 (SD: 1.2). A significant (p < 0.001) improvement in Katz index (mean change = 0.3; SD:1.4) and EQ-5D scoring (mean change = 0.5; SD:1.9) compared to V1, were also reported.

Conclusions

The results suggest that administration of a HP-HMB-ONS improve the nutritional status and may led to a significant improvement in patients' activities of daily living and QoL, independent of baseline BMI.

Community-based supplementary feeding for food insecure, vulnerable and malnourished populations - an overview of systematic reviews

BACKGROUND

Supplementary feeding may help food insecure and vulnerable people by optimising the nutritional value and adequacy of the diet, improving quality of life and improving various health parameters of disadvantaged families. In low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), the problems supplementary feeding aims to address are entangled with poverty and deprivation, the programmes are expensive and delivery is complicated.

OBJECTIVES

1. To summarise the evidence from systematic reviews of supplementary feeding for food insecure, vulnerable and malnourished populations, including children under five years of age, school-aged children, pregnant and lactating women, people with HIV or tuberculosis (or both), and older populations.2. To describe and explore the effects of supplementary feeding given to people in these groups, and to describe the range of outcomes between reviews and range of effects in the different groups.

METHODS

In January 2017, we searched the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, MEDLINE, Embase and nine other databases. We included systematic reviews evaluating community-based supplementary feeding, and concerning food insecure, vulnerable and malnourished populations. Two review authors independently undertook selection of systematic reviews, data extraction and 'Risk of bias' assessment. We assessed review quality using the AMSTAR tool, and used GRADEpro 'Summary of findings' tables from each review to indicate the certainty of the evidence for the main comparisons. We summarised review findings in the text and reported the data for each outcome in additional tables. We also used forest plots to display results graphically.

MAIN RESULTS

This overview included eight systematic reviews (with last search dates between May 2006 and February 2016). Seven were Cochrane Reviews evaluating interventions in pregnant women; children (aged from birth to five years) from LMIC; disadvantaged infants and young children (aged three months to five years); children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM); disadvantaged school children; adults and children who were HIV positive or with active tuberculosis (with or without HIV). One was a non-Cochrane systematic review in older people with Alzheimer's disease. These reviews included 95 trials relevant to this overview, with the majority (74%) of participants from LMIC.The number of included participants varied between 91 and 7940 adults, and 271 and more than 12,595 children. Trials included a wide array of nutritional interventions that varied in duration, frequency and format, with micronutrients often reported as cointerventions. Follow-up ranged from six weeks to two years; three trials investigated outcomes at four to 17 years of age. All reviews were rated as high quality (AMSTAR score between eight and 11). The GRADE certainty ratings ranged from very low to moderate for individual comparisons, with the evidence often comprising only one or two small trials, thereby resulting in many underpowered analyses (too small to detect small but important differences). The main outcome categories reported across reviews were death, anthropometry (adults and children) and other markers of nutritional status, disease-related outcomes, neurocognitive development and psychosocial outcomes, and adverse events.Mortality data were limited and underpowered in meta-analysis in all populations (children with MAM, in children with HIV, and in adults with tuberculosis) with the exception of balanced energy and protein supplementation in pregnancy, which may have reduced the risk of stillbirth (risk ratio (RR) 0.60, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.39 to 0.94; 5 trials, 3408 women). Supplementation in pregnancy also improved infant birth weight (mean difference (MD) 40.96 g, 95% CI 4.66 to 77.26; 11 trials, 5385 participants) and reduced risk of infants born small-for-gestational age (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.69 to 0.90; 7 trials, 4408 participants). These effects did not translate into demonstrable long-term benefits for children in terms of growth and neurocognitive development in the one to two trials reporting on longer-term outcomes. In one study (505 participants), high-protein supplementation was associated with increased risk of small-for-gestational age babies.Effects on growth in children were mixed. In children under five years of age from LMIC, one review found that supplementary feeding had a little or no effect on child growth; however, a more recent review in a similar population found that those who received food supplementation gained an average of 0.12 kg more in weight (MD 0.12 kg, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.18; 9 trials, 1057 participants) and 0.27 cm more in height (MD 0.27 cm, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.48; 9 trials, 1463 participants) than those who were not supplemented. Supplementary food was generally more effective for younger children (younger than two years of age) and for those who were poorer or less well-nourished. In children with MAM, the provision of specially formulated food improved their weight, weight-for-height z scores and other key outcomes such as recovery rate (by 29%), as well as reducing the number of participants dropping out (by 70%). In LMIC, school meals seemed to lead to small benefits for children, including improvements in weight z scores, especially in children from lower-income countries, height z scores, cognition or intelligence quotient tests, and maths and spelling performance.Supplementary feeding in adults who were HIV positive increased the daily energy and protein intake compared to nutritional counselling alone. Supplementation led to an initial improvement in weight gain or body mass index but did not seem to confer long-term benefit.In adults with tuberculosis, one small trial found a significant benefit on treatment completion and sputum conversion rate. There were also significant but modest benefits in terms of weight gain (up to 2.60 kg) during active tuberculosis.The one study included in the Alzheimer's disease review found that three months of daily oral nutritional supplements improved nutritional outcomes in the intervention group.There was little or no evidence regarding people's quality of life, adherence to treatment, attendance at clinic or the costs of supplementary feeding programmes.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Considering the current evidence base included, supplementary food effects are modest at best, with inconsistent and limited mortality evidence. The trials reflected in the reviews mostly reported on short-term outcomes and across the whole of the supplementation trial literature it appears important outcomes, such as quality of life and cost of programmes, are not systematically reported or summarised.

Prevalence of malnutrition and current use of nutrition support in patients with cancer

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The aim of this study was to evaluate on 1 day the prevalence of malnutrition in different types of cancer and the use of nutrition support in patients with cancer.

METHODS

A 1-day prevalence survey was carried out in 154 French hospital wards. Malnutrition was defined as a body mass index (BMI) <18.5 in patients <75 years old or <21 in patients ≥75 years old and/or body weight loss >10% since disease onset. Oral food intake was measured using a visual analog scale.

RESULTS

Nutrition status was collected for 1903 patients (1109 men and 794 women, 59.3 ± 13.2 years). Cancer was local in 25%, regional in 31%, and metastatic in 44% of patients. Performance status was 0 or 1 in 49.8%, 2 in 23.7%, 3 or 4 in 19.6% and not available in 6.5% of patients. Overall, 39% of patients were malnourished. The prevalence of malnutrition by disease site was as follows: head and neck, 48.9%; leukemia/lymphoma, 34.0%; lung, 45.3%; colon/rectum, 39.3%; esophagus and/or stomach, 60.2%; pancreas, 66.7%; breast, 20.5%; ovaries/uterus, 44.8%; and prostate, 13.9%. Regional cancer (odds ratio, 1.96; 95% confidence interval, 1.42-2.70), metastatic cancer (2.97; 2.14-4.12), previous chemotherapy (1.41; 1.05-1.89), and previous radiotherapy (1.53; 1.21-1.92) were associated with malnutrition. Only 28.4% of non-malnourished patients and 57.6% of malnourished patients received nutrition support. In all, 55% of patients stated that they were eating less than before the cancer, while 41.4% of patients stated that they had received nutrition counseling.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of malnutrition is high in patients with cancer, and systematic screening for and treatment of malnutrition is necessary.

Nutritional recommendations for the management of sarcopenia

The Society for Sarcopenia, Cachexia, and Wasting Disease convened an expert panel to develop nutritional recommendations for prevention and management of sarcopenia. Exercise (both resistance and aerobic) in combination with adequate protein and energy intake is the key component of the prevention and management of sarcopenia. Adequate protein supplementation alone only slows loss of muscle mass. Adequate protein intake (leucine-enriched balanced amino acids and possibly creatine) may enhance muscle strength. Low 25(OH) vitamin D levels require vitamin D replacement.

Use of Oral Nutrition Supplements In Long-term Care Facilities

Purpose: Practices related to oral nutrition supplement (ONS) use were examined in elderly people living in longterm care (LTC) facilities.

Methods: Thirteen LTC facilities within a large regional health authority participated, and 17 people responsible for prescribing ONS in their facilities were interviewed, using a key informant telephone survey. A survey on ONS practice wasmodified, pilot tested, and used.

Results:Oral nutrition supplements were primarily prescribed by nursing staff (59%), followed by physicians, registered dietitians, or other staff; ONS use was prescribed for decreased intake, unintentional weight loss, or wound healing. Various ONS products (e.g., Ensure, Boost, or Resource 2.0) were prescribed. Only 18% of respondents reported using alternative food options first to supplement nutritional intake, before introducing ONS. In terms of follow-up and evaluation, the measures of improvement included weight gain, wound healing, or improved well-being; reasons for discontinuation included weight gain, increased intake, or death.

Conclusions: Within LTC settings, the prescription and monitoring of ONS vary considerably. Evidence-based guidelines for the prescription and monitoring of ONS and for the use of a food-first strategy should be developed, implemented, and evaluated to optimize the nutritional health of the elderly in LTC facilities.

Changes in body mass, energy balance, physical function, and inflammatory state in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer treated with concurrent chemoradiation after low-dose induction chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

We aimed to determine changes in body mass and body composition in relation to energy balance, inflammatory state, and physical function before and after concurrent chemoradiation (CCR).

METHODS

Seventeen patients with stage III and IVa head and neck cancer, aged 58.9 +/- 5.4 years, who had completed a 9-week regimen of low-dose induction chemotherapy came to the General Clinical Research Center pre- and post-CCR for measurement of body mass composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, resting energy expenditure (REE) by indirect calorimetry, physical performance (by Modified Baecke Questionnaire and Reuben's Physical Performance Test), and functionality (Activities and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scores). Fasting venous samples were collected to determine C-reactive protein and cytokines interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10. Random 24-hour telephone diet recalls assessed energy intakes.

RESULTS

Weight loss began 1 week after CCR. Lean body mass (LBM) accounted for 71.7% +/- 21% of body mass loss. No change occurred in energy intakes or calorie/nitrogen ratio. REE was significantly increased when adjusted for LBM loss (kcal/kg), p = .019. LBM loss was significantly associated with physical performance decline, r = .71, p = .004, and increased functional dependence, r = .58, p = .02. Total physical activity level declined significantly, p = .003. Cytokine levels were strongly associated with physical and functional decline.

CONCLUSIONS

The aberrant changes in body composition, metabolism, and inflammatory state were associated with clinically and statistically significant impairments in physical performance and function. Future investigations and clinical practice should combine nutrition with antiinflammatory agents and exercise activities to support lean tissue anabolism and prevent physical and functional decline of patients with head and neck cancer undergoing CCR.

Oral protein–energy supplements for children with chronic disease:systematic review

Growth failure and poor nutritional status are features of children with chronic disease. Oral protein–energy supplements are one of a number of interventions provided with the aim of improving nutritional status in these children. The present paper describes a Cochrane systematic review assessing the efficacy of these products in children with chronic disease. The objective was to examine the evidence that in children with chronic disease oral protein–energy supplements alter nutrient intake, nutritional indices, survival and quality of life. All randomised controlled trials of the use of oral protein–energy supplements in children with chronic disease were identified through searching electronic databases and hand searching the abstract books of nutrition conferences. Studies identified were independently assessed for eligibility and methodological quality, and data on outcomes of interest were combined in a meta-analysis where possible. Two trials were eligible for inclusion in the review, both of which were undertaken with children with cystic fibrosis. No statistical differences could be found between treatment and control groups when data from both studies were combined. Oral protein–energy supplements are widely used to improve the nutritional status of children with chronic disease. No conclusions can be drawn on the efficacy of these products based on the limited data available. Further randomised controlled trials are required to investigate the use of these products in children with chronic disease. Until further data are available, these products should be used with caution.

Cancer cachexia: it's time for more clinical trials

Cancer cachexia (CC) is a multifactorial paraneoplastic syndrome characterized by anorexia, body weight loss, loss of adipose tissue and skeletal muscle, accounting for at least 20% of deaths in neoplastic patients. CC significantly impairs quality of life and response to anti-neoplastic therapies, increasing morbidity and mortality of cancer patients. Muscle wasting is the most important phenotypic feature of CC and the principal cause of function impairment, fatigue and respiratory complications, mainly related to a hyperactivation of muscle proteolytic pathways. Most current therapeutic strategies to counteract CC have proven to be only partially effective. In the last decade, the correction of anorexia, the inhibition of catabolic processes and the stimulation of anabolic pathways in muscle have been attempted pharmacologically with encouraging results in animal models and through preliminary clinical trials. However, data in the clinical setting are still scanty and non definitive. It is time to start prospective, randomized, controlled trials to evaluate which drugs are effective in counteracting the loss of lean of muscle mass and in improving nutritional status and quality of life in patients affected by cancer-related cachexia.

Cancer-Associated Cachexia and Underlying Biological Mechanisms

Cancer metastases (spread to distant organs from the primary tumor site) signify systemic, progressive, and essentially incurable malignant disease. Anorexia and wasting develop continuously throughout the course of incurable cancer. Overall, in Westernized countries nearly exactly half of current cancer diagnoses end in cure and the other half end in death; thus, cancer-associated cachexia has a high prevalence. The pathophysiology of cancer-associated cachexia has two principal components: a failure of food intake and a systemic hypermetabolism/hypercatabolism syndrome. The superimposed metabolic changes result in a rate of depletion of physiological reserves of energy and protein that is greater than would be expected based on the prevailing level of food intake. These features indicate a need for nutritional support, metabolic management, and a clear appreciation of the context of life-limiting illness.

Oral supplements differing in fat and carbohydrate content: effect on the appetite and food intake of undernourished elderly patients

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Since fat, relative to other macronutrients, has low satiety and high energy density, it may have therapeutic application for supplementing energy intake. This study compared the effect of isoenergetic (1050 kJ) high fat or high carbohydrate oral supplements, given at breakfast, on the short-term appetite and energy intake in undernourished elderly subjects.

METHODS

Sixteen hospitalised, undernourished (body mass index: 20 +/- 3 kg/m2), elderly (77 +/- 8 yr) people were randomly allocated to a control or 1 of 2 supplement groups [fat: carbohydrate: protein (% energy) was 70:25:5 or 25:70:5]. In each group, energy intake (24-h food consumption) and appetite (visual analogue scales) were assessed over 3 consecutive days.

RESULTS

Mean energy intake significantly (P = 0.0035) increased following supplementation: high fat 6973 kJ/d, high carbohydrate 6906 kJ/d vs. control 6079 kJ/d but mean voluntary 24-h energy intake remained unaffected. Compared to controls, supplemented subjects experienced reduced hunger (P = 0.07) between breakfast and lunch, but showed no difference over the whole day (P = 0.55).

CONCLUSIONS

Under these study conditions a 1050 kJ oral supplement, irrespective of macronutrient composition, does not cause voluntary short-term energy intake compensation in undernourished elderly people.