Oral nutritional supplements may reduce deaths in older hospital patients at nutritional risk
A review suggests possible benefits for older inpatients with malnutrition or its risk, while uncertainty limits broader conclusions about nutritional interventions.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Oral nutritional supplements may reduce deaths and serious adverse events in hospitalized older people with malnutrition or nutritional risk. Other outcomes often showed little or no difference, or remained very uncertain. These findings do not establish benefits for well-nourished adults or identify a consistently superior nutrition approach across outcomes.
Evidence was mostly low or very low certainty because comparisons included few studies and participants. Patients' varying conditions and differences in available treatment comparisons also limited the conclusions.
What researchers found
Absolute mortality risk difference
Oral nutritional supplements versus standard care, with or without placebo, at discharge or 30 days; 95% CI, 79 fewer to 17 fewer deaths per 1000. Low-certainty evidence.
What the review compared
The review considered extra protein, energy supplements, oral nutritional supplements, feeding support, and individualized nutritional care. Its analysis combined available comparisons, with intervention rankings differing across outcomes.
Beyond the mortality result
The abstract separates patient outcomes from changes in body weight. Possible weight increases over standard care were very uncertain, and treatment rankings varied depending on which outcome was examined.
The original publication
Oral nutritional interventions in hospitalised older people at nutritional risk: a network meta-analysis of individual participant data.
Kiesswetter E, Schwarzer G, Stadelmaier J et al.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41886673
- Record checked
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