EFFECT OF NUTRITIONAL COUNSELING COMBINED WITH PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTATION ON NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND FUNCTIONAL PERFORMANCE AMONG HOSPITALIZED OLDER PATIENTS
Main Article Content
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of individualized nutritional counseling combined with oral protein supplementation on nutritional status, biochemical markers, body composition, and physical function in older medical inpatients.
Methods: A controlled clinical trial on 120 inpatients aged 65-80 years with MNA-SF ≤ 11 at Military Hospital 354 (June 2024 - December 2025), randomly allocated to an intervention group (n = 60: daily individualized counseling plus 20 g oral protein supplement per day for 15 days) or a control group
(n = 60: routine care). Outcomes were measured at T0 and T1 and analyzed using a paired t-test, an independent t-test for change (Δ), and ANCOVA.
Results: Groups were comparable at baseline (p > 0.05), except for the ADL score (p = 0.039), which was adjusted for in the ANCOVA model. Dietary protein increased by +25.00 ± 6.24 versus +20.33 ± 6.37 g/day (p < 0.001); 75.0% versus 48.3% reached ≥ 1.0 g protein/kg/day (p = 0.005). MNA-SF rose by +2.23 ± 1.01 versus +1.22 ± 0.96 points; prealbumin by +9.03 ± 2.27 versus +4.38 ± 2.07 mg/dL; albumin by +4.41 ± 3.41 versus +1.72 ± 1.34 g/L (all p < 0.001). The intervention group preserved muscle mass (+0.54%), handgrip strength (+0.41 kg), and ADL (+0.90), whereas controls declined (-1.09%; -0.81 kg; -0.22 points; p < 0.001). ANCOVA confirmed independent intervention effects (p < 0.001). Compliance was 98.3% with no adverse events.
Conclusion: Individualized nutritional counseling combined with 20 g/day oral protein supplementation for 15 days improved dietary intake, nutritional status, and biochemical markers, and preserved muscle mass and physical function in older medical inpatients.
Keywords
older adults, malnutrition, oral protein supplementation, MNA-SF, prealbumin, ADL
Article Details
References
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