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Malnutrition

Malnutrition can lead to and worsen acute and chronic medical conditions, especially among older adults. The consequences of malnutrition are serious: it increases the risks for complications; leads to longer hospital length of stay and hospital readmissions, leading to higher healthcare costs; and is associated with increased risk of mortality and morbidity. Malnutrition decreases quality of life, functional status, activities of daily living, wound healing, muscle mass and strength.2-4

And, the economic burden of malnutrition is high: disease-associated malnutrition creates a $157 billion burden in the U.S. annually, considering direct medical costs, quality-adjusted life years lost, and mortality8; direct medical costs of disease-associated malnutrition total $15.5 billion annually in the U.S.3; the 30-day readmission rate is more than 50% higher, and the average cost per readmission is 26% higher for patients with malnutrition compared to patients without malnutrition.2

Nestlé Health Science offers a range of nutrition solutions to help improve health outcomes and quality of life for people with malnutrition and other related conditions.

WHAT IS MALNUTRITION?

Malnutrition is a condition caused by poor nutrition, and can manifest as undernutrition, overnutrition, or micronutrient deficiencies.5

  • Undernutrition is caused by insufficient intake of energy, protein, or essential nutrients, leading to weight loss. Malnutrition from undernutrition negatively impacts functional status parameters, activities of daily living, muscle mass and strength, frailty, sarcopenia, risk of falls, and immune function.9-14
  • Overnutrition involves excessive caloric intake, often leading to obesity and related metabolic disorders.
  • Micronutrient deficiencies occur when an individual has inadequate intake of essential vitamins and minerals in their diet, potentially resulting in health complications

Malnutrition exists in both institutional care and the community.6

A large-scale multinational study showed that malnutrition in adults 65 years and older remained high across all care settings:16

Malnutrition chart

 

Malnutrition also affects individuals living in the community, particularly among those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged or experiencing food insecurity. Limited access to nutritious food, poor dietary habits, and inadequate nutritional knowledge can contribute to malnutrition within the broader community.16

CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF MALNUTRITION

Malnutrition is both a cause and consequence of disease.

As a cause of disease, malnutrition weakens the body's immune system and compromises its ability to fight off infections and recover from illnesses. Insufficient intake of essential nutrients, particularly protein, vitamins, and minerals, can lead to decreased muscle mass and strength, impaired organ function, and delayed wound healing.6

Conversely, many medical conditions and chronic diseases can lead to a loss of appetite, malabsorption of nutrients, or increased energy expenditure. These factors can result in unintended weight loss, nutrient deficiencies, and muscle wasting. Moreover, medical treatments like chemotherapy or surgery can cause side effects that further contribute to malnutrition.6

CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH MALNUTRITION

Malnutrition is often linked to numerous medical conditions, including:

  • Chronic diseases: Cancer, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and inflammatory bowel disease can contribute to malnutrition due to increased metabolic demands or decreased appetite.
  • Malabsorptive disorders: Conditions like celiac disease, Crohn's disease, and short bowel syndrome hinder nutrient absorption, and may lead to malnutrition.
  • Eating disorders: Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder can result in malnutrition and significant health consequences.

Aging Increases Risk of Malnutrition:

  • Risk of malnutrition increases in the elderly, affecting as many as 69% of individuals across different care settings and 30% in the community.15
  • Although protein needs increase with age for both healthy and non-healthy older adults to maintain muscle mass and functionality,17,18 more than 40% of adults ages 51 and older are not meeting minimum daily protein requirements.19

Addressing malnutrition requires a holistic approach that considers both the prevention and treatment of malnutrition in diverse settings. Nutritional screening, early intervention, and personalized nutritional support are essential to addressing malnutrition and improving overall health and well-being.21

NUTRITION STRATEGIES FOR TREATING & PREVENTING MALNUTRITION

Nutrition plays a central role in replenishing depleted nutrients, supporting tissue repair, and restoring the overall health of malnourished patients. Adequate nutrition is essential for the body's immune system, energy metabolism, and organ function. In malnourished individuals, nutrient deficiencies can weaken the immune response, impair wound healing, and lead to muscle wasting, making them more susceptible to infections and other health complications.6 Providing the right nutrients in proper quantities is critical to treat malnutrition and promote optimal recovery.

Early intervention and appropriate nutrition management are key strategies in treating and preventing malnutrition.7

Various nutrition interventions, including nutrition counseling, oral nutritional supplements, vitamin and mineral supplements or enteral nutrition (tube feeding) can be considered in addressing nutrient deficiencies and promoting improved health outcomes for patients at risk or suffering from malnutrition.

Nestlé Health Science's evidence-based nutritional solutions offer a diverse range of options to support healthcare professionals in their efforts to combat malnutrition effectively.

Oral Nutritional Supplements

Oral nutritional supplements (ONS) provide calories, protein and other essential nutrients to help improve nutritional intake and support weight maintenance and/or weight gain in patients who are at risk of malnutrition or who have been diagnosed with malnutrition. (20)

Nestlé Health Science offers a range of oral nutritional supplements that can support weight maintenance or gain, provide high protein for muscle health, and vitamins and minerals to support micronutrient needs.

Related Products

Tube Feeding

Nestlé Health Science provides a diverse range of specialized tube feeding formulas to address specific nutritional needs for patients with malnutrition. These formulas cater to diverse medical conditions, dietary preferences, and challenges, offering targeted nutritional support for improved health outcomes.

Related Products

Modulars

Modulars are nutritional supplements that provide specific nutrients and can be added to food or drinks to increase nutritional content. Patients with malnutrition may need modulars if they have difficulty eating or digesting food, have a medical condition that affects nutrient absorption, or have increased nutritional needs due to illness or injury.

Nestlé Health Science's modular supplements provide a balanced mix of nutrients and are also tailored to meet the specific needs of different patient populations.

Related Products

Program Objectives:

1. Describe the Prevalence, Health Economic and Clinical Impact of Malnutrition in Older Adults
2. Understand the Components of the Global Malnutrition Composite Score (GMCS), and How it Measures Quality of Care
3. Describe How Malnutrition Quality Measures Improve Patient Health Outcomes
4. Identify Evidence-Based Strategies to Improve Older Adult Malnutrition Care

 

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Objectives:
• Identify gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms that show improved outcomes with food-based tube feeding formulas
• Describe real-world evidence demonstrating clinical and health economic outcomes with tube feeding formulas containing real food ingredients
• Apply case-based studies to current practice for managing GI intolerance in pediatric tube-fed patients

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Objectives:
• Identify common challenges associated with feeding tubes and strategies to avoid such challenges
• Describe key parameters used to assess GI intolerance and identify feeding regimen options to alleviate symptoms
• Describe dos and don’ts when recommending a blenderized or commercially prepared food-based tube feeding

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In this presentation, a multidisciplinary panel consisting of a physician assistant specializing in pediatric neurological impairment and complex GI disorders, a dietitian specializing in adult home enteral nutrition support and a pediatric gastroenterologist address evidence and current experience with food-based tube feeding formulas for their patients receiving tube feeding.

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WHAT IS MALNUTRITION?

Malnutrition is a condition caused by poor nutrition, and can manifest as undernutrition, overnutrition, or micronutrient deficiencies.5

  • Undernutrition is caused by insufficient intake of energy, protein, or essential nutrients, leading to weight loss. Malnutrition from undernutrition negatively impacts functional status parameters, activities of daily living, muscle mass and strength, frailty, sarcopenia, risk of falls, and immune function.9-14
  • Overnutrition involves excessive caloric intake, often leading to obesity and related metabolic disorders.
  • Micronutrient deficiencies occur when an individual has inadequate intake of essential vitamins and minerals in their diet, potentially resulting in health complications

Malnutrition exists in both institutional care and the community.6

A large-scale multinational study showed that malnutrition in adults 65 years and older remained high across all care settings:16

Malnutrition chart

 

Malnutrition also affects individuals living in the community, particularly among those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged or experiencing food insecurity. Limited access to nutritious food, poor dietary habits, and inadequate nutritional knowledge can contribute to malnutrition within the broader community.16

CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF MALNUTRITION

Malnutrition is both a cause and consequence of disease.

As a cause of disease, malnutrition weakens the body's immune system and compromises its ability to fight off infections and recover from illnesses. Insufficient intake of essential nutrients, particularly protein, vitamins, and minerals, can lead to decreased muscle mass and strength, impaired organ function, and delayed wound healing.6

Conversely, many medical conditions and chronic diseases can lead to a loss of appetite, malabsorption of nutrients, or increased energy expenditure. These factors can result in unintended weight loss, nutrient deficiencies, and muscle wasting. Moreover, medical treatments like chemotherapy or surgery can cause side effects that further contribute to malnutrition.6

CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH MALNUTRITION

Malnutrition is often linked to numerous medical conditions, including:

  • Chronic diseases: Cancer, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and inflammatory bowel disease can contribute to malnutrition due to increased metabolic demands or decreased appetite.
  • Malabsorptive disorders: Conditions like celiac disease, Crohn's disease, and short bowel syndrome hinder nutrient absorption, and may lead to malnutrition.
  • Eating disorders: Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder can result in malnutrition and significant health consequences.

Aging Increases Risk of Malnutrition:

  • Risk of malnutrition increases in the elderly, affecting as many as 69% of individuals across different care settings and 30% in the community.15
  • Although protein needs increase with age for both healthy and non-healthy older adults to maintain muscle mass and functionality,17,18 more than 40% of adults ages 51 and older are not meeting minimum daily protein requirements.19

Addressing malnutrition requires a holistic approach that considers both the prevention and treatment of malnutrition in diverse settings. Nutritional screening, early intervention, and personalized nutritional support are essential to addressing malnutrition and improving overall health and well-being.21

NUTRITION STRATEGIES FOR TREATING & PREVENTING MALNUTRITION

Nutrition plays a central role in replenishing depleted nutrients, supporting tissue repair, and restoring the overall health of malnourished patients. Adequate nutrition is essential for the body's immune system, energy metabolism, and organ function. In malnourished individuals, nutrient deficiencies can weaken the immune response, impair wound healing, and lead to muscle wasting, making them more susceptible to infections and other health complications.6 Providing the right nutrients in proper quantities is critical to treat malnutrition and promote optimal recovery.

Early intervention and appropriate nutrition management are key strategies in treating and preventing malnutrition.7

Various nutrition interventions, including nutrition counseling, oral nutritional supplements, vitamin and mineral supplements or enteral nutrition (tube feeding) can be considered in addressing nutrient deficiencies and promoting improved health outcomes for patients at risk or suffering from malnutrition.

Nestlé Health Science's evidence-based nutritional solutions offer a diverse range of options to support healthcare professionals in their efforts to combat malnutrition effectively.

Oral Nutritional Supplements

Oral nutritional supplements (ONS) provide calories, protein and other essential nutrients to help improve nutritional intake and support weight maintenance and/or weight gain in patients who are at risk of malnutrition or who have been diagnosed with malnutrition. (20) Nestlé Health Science offers a range of oral nutritional supplements that can support weight maintenance or gain, provide high protein for muscle health, and vitamins and minerals to support micronutrient needs.

Related Products

Tube Feeding

Nestlé Health Science provides a diverse range of specialized tube feeding formulas to address specific nutritional needs for patients with malnutrition. These formulas cater to diverse medical conditions, dietary preferences, and challenges, offering targeted nutritional support for improved health outcomes.

Related Products

Modulars

Modulars are nutritional supplements that provide specific nutrients and can be added to food or drinks to increase nutritional content. Patients with malnutrition may need modulars if they have difficulty eating or digesting food, have a medical condition that affects nutrient absorption, or have increased nutritional needs due to illness or injury. Nestlé Health Science's modular supplements provide a balanced mix of nutrients and are also tailored to meet the specific needs of different patient populations.

Related Products