Review: protein and energy supplements reduce mortality and complications in undernourished elderly people in hospital
Q Do protein and energy supplements improve clinical outcomes in elderly people?
METHODS
Data sources:
Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (2005, issue 2); Medline (June 2005); EMBASE/Excerpta Medica, CINAHL, BIOSIS, and CAB abstracts (March 2004); HealthStar (March 2001); nutrition journals; reference lists of relevant articles; and manufacturers of nutritional supplements.
Study selection and assessment:
randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials that evaluated use of an oral protein or energy supplement for ⩾1 week compared with placebo or control treatment in elderly people (average age ⩾65 y) in hospital, long term care, or the community. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) involving patients in critical care or recovering from cancer treatment were excluded. 2 reviewers independently assessed study quality. 55 RCTs (n = 9187) met the selection criteria. The study interventions aimed to provide 175–1000 …
