Volume 90, Issue 2, August (2003), pp. 425-430 © The Author 2003
doi:10.1079/BJN2003898

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Can prescription of sip-feed supplements increase energy intake in hospitalised older people with medical problems?

Margaret Roberts¹, Jan Potter¹, John McColl², John Reilly^3
1South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust, Mansionhouse Unit, Mansionhouse Road, Glasgow, G41 3DX, Scotland, , UK
²Department of Statistics, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland, , UK
³Department of Human Nutrition, University of Glasgow, Yorkhill Hospital, Glasgow, G3 8SJ, Scotland, , UK

 (Received 19 April 2002–Revised 21 March 2003–Accepted 21 March 2003)

A blinded randomised controlled trial of prescribed oral sip-feed supplements compared with routine hospital practice was undertaken in acute admissions to a geriatric medicine department. Patients were eligible for inclusion if they were admitted from home, were not obese (BMI>75th percentile), had no swallowing difficulties and were not deemed to be in the terminal stage of illness. On admission they were stratified by nutritional status (BMI<5th, >5th to <25th, >25th to <75th percentile) and randomised. The intervention group received 120 ml oral sip-feed supplement prescribed three times per d in the medicine prescription chart (22·5 g protein, 2260 kJ (540 kcal) energy/d) distributed at medication rounds for the duration of hospital stay. The control group received routine hospital care. Outcomes were patient compliance with supplement, total energy intake and nursing staff views of the method. Patients were randomised to receive supplements (n 186 of total n 381). Half had full compliance and three-quarters at least moderate compliance. Total energy intake was significantly increased, on average, in the intervention group (P=0·001). The proportion of patients meeting estimated minimum energy requirements was significantly increased (P=0·023), but was still <50 % for the sample of patients in the intervention group. The present study suggests this method is acceptable to patients and staff and improves total energy intake. However, the amount prescribed did not ensure minimum energy requirements were met in all cases.

Keywords:
Oral sip-feed supplements, Randomised controlled trial, Energy balance, Older people

Abbreviations:
EI, energy intake This study was undertaken in the Department of Medicine for the Elderly, Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow, Scotland, UK