The morphofunctional evaluation of patients at risk of malnutrition receiving a leucine-enriched nutritional supplement

Abstract

This real-world study evaluated the evolution of the morphofunctional assessment of patients at risk of malnutrition using a leucine-enriched hyperproteic oral nutritional supplementation (ONS). A prospective observational one-arm study was used for 65 patients at risk of malnutrition, comparing medical nutrition therapy with an adapted diet and leucine-enriched ONS once or twice daily. All patients were studied at baseline and three months after intervention with a morphofunctional assessment. The age of patients was 57.99(17.97) years. Forty-three(66.2%) patients were women. A decrease in the percent of weight loss was observed after intervention (men: baseline = 6.38[8.64]%; 3 months = -1.48[4.42]%; p < 0.01; women: baseline = 9.42[10.13]; 3 months = -1.49[4.11]; p < 0.01). An improvement in the phase angle in patients who consumed ONS twice daily (baseline = 4.43[0.88]; 3 months = 4.64[0.69]; p = 0.01). There was an increase in rectus femoris area adjusted by BMI in those who consumed two ONSs per day (baseline = 0.23[0.06]; 3 months = 0.24[0.06]; p = 0.01). Medical Nutrition Therapy with diet and a leucine enriched ONS in community patients with disease-related malnutrition stopped the percent of weight loss. The patients who consumed ONS twice daily showed an improvement in phase angle and ultrasonographic parameters.