MediDrink Plus is an FSMP intended for the nutritional management of disease-related malnutrition.
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The numerous beneficial effects of a high energy intake include preventing the breakdown of proteins and going against cata-
bolic metabolism. Read more
A high protein intake helps keep albumin levels up and lower immune suppression caused by therapy, amongst other benefits. Read more
Decreasing the level of acute phase proteins and inflammatory cytokines is only one of the num
ber of benefits a high Omega-3 intake brings. Read more
According to current research providing energy from non-carbohydrate sources may have an indirect antiproliferative effect in cancer. Read more
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High energy |
An increased energy intake is beneficial for patients for several reasons.
Approaching the issue from a different direction, namely that is the negative effects of a lower energy intake, we come to the same conclusions. Cachexia and malnutrition can be a result of reduced nutritional intake and increased nutritional demand2 in patients with several diseases, especially cancer, where malnourishment can affect a ratio of patients as high as 85%. The result of cachexia is often chronic negative energy and protein balance.5
It is therefore not only highly beneficial but crucial to provide a high energy nutritional product for patients.
The energy level of MediDrink Plus is among the highest on the market with a value of 200kcal in 100ml, that means 40 to 50kcal more than most of the competitors’ products.
Study:
Undernutrition is a major source of morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. This prospective, cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the relative contributions of cancer staging, duration and diet on patients' nutritional deterioration.
Materials and Methods:
205 consecutive patients (133 men and 72 women, age 53±12 years) with head and neck, gastro-esophageal, colon, and rectum cancer were enrolled. Clinical variables, nutritional status (percentage of weight loss, BMI, Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment [PG-SGA]), nutritional requirements, diet history, 24-hour recall current diet intake were recorded.
Results:
A significant decrease in usual and current energy and protein intake (p=0.002) was observed in stage III and IV cancer patients. Reduction in nutritional intake was influenced by disease duration (p=0.04), and advanced staging showed the most significant association with nutritional depletion (p=0.0001). Disease duration, nutritional intake, and previous surgery or chemotherapy were also significantly associated to nutritional depletion (p=0.002, p=0.003 and p=0.02 respectively). Percentage weight loss showed a consistently superior performance with regard to clinical variables and ability to detect mild to extreme nutritional changes.
Conclusions:
Nutritional depletion in cancer patients is multifactorial, dependent mainly on the tumor burden of the host. Percentage weight loss is a sensitive and specific tool for effectively screening and identifying malnutrition.
Study:
The study aimed to examine the effect of nutrition intervention on dietary intake, body composition, nutritional status, and quality of life in patients with cancer cachexia receiving chemotherapy.
Materials and Methods:
Out of the eight patients with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas or non-small cell lung cancer enrolled, 7 completed this open study. Patients were asked to consume at least 1 can/day of an energy- and protein-dense, ω-3 fatty acid enriched oral nutritional supplement (1298 kJ, 16 g protein,
1.1 g eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA]) between meals for 8 weeks.
Results:
There were significant improvements in total protein intake, total energy intake, nutritional status, Karnofsky performance status, and quality of life. Though statistically non-significant, weight has improved clinically significantly. Change in nutritional status was significantly associated to change in quality of life, change in Karnofsky performance status, and change in lean body mass.
Conclusions:
Nutrition intervention together with chemotherapy improved outcomes in patients with pancreatic and non-small cell lung cancer in 8 weeks. Supplement intake did not inhibit meal intake.
Study:
Several studies have shown that the restoration of energy balance by nutritional support results in a significant increase in body weight, fat-free mass, respiratory muscle function, and even in the immune response. The objective of this study was to further unravel the prognostic significance of body weight changes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Materials and Methods:
Two survival analyses were performed: 1) a retrospective study including 400 patients with COPD none of whom received nutritional therapy, 2) a post hoc analysis of a prospective study, including 203 patients with COPD who had participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
Results:
The retrospective trial revealed that low body mass index (BMI), age, and low arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) were significant independent predictors of mortality. After stratification of the group according to BMI categories, a threshold value of 25 kg/m2 was identified below which the mortality risk was increased. In the prospective study, weight gain (>2 kg/8 weeks) in nutritionally depleted and non-depleted COPD patients was a significant predictor or survival.
Conclusions:
The study provides evidence to support the hypothesis that body weight has an independent effect on survival in COPD patients. The negative effect of low body weight can be reversed by appropriate therapy.
Study:
This study aimed to conduct a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to clarify the efficacy of nutritional support in improving total food intake, anthropometric measures, and grip strength in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Materials and Methods:
Literature databases were searched to identify RCTs comparing nutritional support with controls in stable COPD.
Results:
Thirteen RCTs of nutritional support with a control comparison were identified. Significantly greater increases in mean total energy (236 kcal/day) and protein (14.8 g) intakes were seen with nutritional support. Meta-analyses also showed greater mean (±SE) improvements in favor of nutritional support for body weight (1.94±0.26 kg, p<0.001), and grip strength (5.3%, p<0.05).
*p < 0.001
Conclusions:
This systematic review and meta-analysis showed that nutritional support, mainly in the form of oral nutritional supplementation, improves total food intake, anthropometric measures, and grip strength in COPD.
Study:
The role of diet in the etiology and management of Crohn's disease has been widely investigated. This study's purpose was to further examine the potential role of high calorie whole diet in the management of severe refractory Crohn's disease.
Materials and Methods:
Eleven patients (9 men and 2 women, mean age 28 years) with active recurrent Crohn's disease were enrolled. A high protein, moderate residue diet was fed to patients. Patients consumed an average of 3 meals and 3 snacks daily. Patients were assessed clinically on a weekly basis, and nutritional parameters were recorded at discharge or failure of treatment.
Results:
Eight out of the 11 patients achieved remission with a drop in the disease activity score from 13 to 4 (p < 0.001) and reversal of subacute obstruction in all cases. Nutritional parameters (weight, triceps skinfold thickness, arm muscle area, and serum albumin) increased in all patients. The diet was well-tolerated with a mean treatment period of 20 days.
Conclusions:
High calorie diet induces weight gain, decreases disease activity score, and increases serum albumin level in patients with severe refractory Crohn's disease.
Study:
It is important to determine whether providing nutritionally complete oral nutritional supplement drinks (ONS) is an effective way of improving clinical outcomes for older people with dementia. This study systematically reviewed clinical, well-being and nutritional outcomes in people with long-term cognitive impairment. This study's purpose was to further examine the potential role of high calorie whole diet in the management of severe refractory Crohn's disease.
Materials and Methods:
Twelve article were included in the review containing 1076 people's data in the supplement groups (intervention) and 748 persons' data in the control groups.
Results:
Meta-analysis showed a significant improvement in weight (p < 0.0001), body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.0001) and cognition (p=0.002) when ONS were given compared to the control group.
Conclusions:
Providing ONS has a positive effect on weight gain and cognition in older people with dementia.
Study:
In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and especially in those undergoing maintenance dialysis, the so-called uremic malnutrition, also referred to as protein-energy wasting (PEW), is by far the strongest risk factor for adverse outcomes and death. Evidence indicates that surrogates of PEW, such as low serum levels of albumin or inadequate protein intake, correlate with mortality. Indeed, a low serum albumin concentration is by far the strongest predictor of poor outcomes and mortality, at least in patients on dialysis, when compared with any other risk factor, including traditional risk factors (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, and obesity) or nonconventional risk factors (measures of anemia, mineral and bone surrogates, and dialysis modality).
This review focused on the dietary and enteral management of CKD as an important component of patient care.
Materials and Methods:
Review of the available data on enteral and parenteral nutrition in CKD.
Results:
According to the available data, oral supplements can increase the total daily energy and protein intake of patients on peritoneal dialysis.
IDNP: intra-dialytic parenteral nutrition
ONS: oral nutritional supplementation
Conclusions:
Providing meals or oral nutritional supplements and other nutritional interventions to patients with CKD is the most promising way to increase serum albumin concentration and improve longevity and quality of life in this patient population.
Study:
Oral nutritional supplements (ONS) play a key role in the management of malnutrition. This review examined patients' compliance with ONS across health care settings and the influence of ONS- and patient-related factors.
Materials and Methods:
A systematic review of 46 studies with data on compliance to ONS was performed.
Results:
The pooled mean age of the populations was 74 years, and BMI 22.8 kg/m2. Overall mean compliance to ONS was 78%. Compliance across a heterogenous group of unmatched studies was positively associated with higher energy-density ONS, greater ONS and total energy intakes, and negatively associated with age, and unrelated to amount and duration of ONS prescription.
*p < 0.05
Conclusions:
Compliance to ONS is good, especially with higher energy-density ONS, resulting in improvement of patients' total energy intake that has been linked to clinical benefits.
Study:
Acceptability and intake of oral nutritional supplements (ONS) are often suboptimal, partly because patients dislike flavor, smell or texture. This study assessed the taste preferences of milk-based and fruit juice-type supplements in malnourished in-patients.
Materials and Methods:
One-hundred and nine patients were assigned to consume 4 given supplements on 4 consecutive days, to answer a questionnaire on taste preference and to choose their preferred product for the fifth day.
Results:
Overall pleasantness was significantly better for milk-based supplements than for sweet and salty fruit juice-type products
(p < 0.01 and p < 0.0001 respectively), whereas digestive tolerance was comparable. When offered together on day 5, milk-based products were more frequently preferred than fruit juice-type supplements (81.6% and 18.4% respectively, p < 0.01). Among milk-based supplements, vanilla, coffee and strawberry had comparable good results.
Conclusions:
Oral nutritional supplements are globally well-accepted and tolerated, but with variations according to categories and flavors that must be considered in order to improve compliance.
