This study aims to investigate the compliance of high-energy, low-volume oral nutritional supplements (ONS) compared to equivalent high-energy standard ONS (control) in participants at risk of malnutrition.
The use of high-calorie, high-protein ONS is recommended in patients with malnutrition or who are at risk of malnutrition-related disease. However, compliance with ONS is a key feature to improve the patient's nutritional status. Since compliance with ONS could be influenced by the energy density and the volume of the nutritional supplement used, a higher energy density and lower volume ONS could provide similar energy to the standard ONS for the requirements of this population. This study has been designed as an open-label randomized crossover study with nutritional intervention with the aim to compare the patient's compliance, defined as the percentage of energy consumed with respect to that prescribed, with a high-energy content, low volume ONS versus a standard high calorie and volume ONS, over an 8-weeks follow-up period. As secondary objectives, the study aims to describe the gastrointestinal tolerance and satisfaction of the study ONS, to establish the factors that may affect compliance with the ONS and to compare the cost associated with product wastage in both ONS. The study population will consist of patients aged ≥ 18 years, distributed into three groups according to their diagnosis: oncological patients, surgical patients, and other patients, all of them malnourished or at risk of malnutrition according to Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), and requiring the use of an ONS. Participants will be randomly allocated to receive either: Group A: A high energy, low volume ONS (2.4kcal/ml; 125ml) in addition to the diet for 28 days. Participants will then receive the equivalent standard ONS (2.0kcal/ml, 200ml) as control ad libitum in addition to diet for 7 days, or: Group B. A standard ONS (2.0 kcal/ml, 200ml) as control in addition to the diet for 28 days. Participants will then receive the high energy, low volume equivalent ONS (2.4kcal/ml; 125ml) for 28 days.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
73
2 bottles/day of a High-Energy, Low-Volume ONS
2 bottles/day of a High-Energy Standard ONS
Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre
Madrid, Spain
Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga
Málaga, Spain
Compliance rate with ONS
Percentage of consumed energy over the prescribed
Time frame: One period of 28 days for both ONS (high-energy low-volume, and high-energy standard)
Gastrointestinal tolerance
Tolerance is measured using a numeric rate scale (NRS) of the frequency of symptoms (0, not at all; 10, very frequently) for the last 7 days such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, acid reflux, bellyache, bloated belly, stomach pain, flatulence, and satiety.
Time frame: Weekly (from second to fourth week of each period) up to 8 weeks
Satisfaction with ONS
Satisfaction with the ONS taste, satiety, ease of completing the intake, and overall satisfaction are measured using an NRS of the level of satisfaction (0, very dissatisfied; 10, very satisfied).
Time frame: For each period/ONS, up to 8 weeks
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