About medical nutrition

The role of nutrition in disease related malnutrition and frailty

Disease Related Malnutrition (DRM) is a condition characterized by inadequate intake of energy, protein, and/or micronutrients, that leads to altered body composition (decreased muscle mass), diminished physical and mental function and impaired clinical outcome from disease*. 

Disease Related Malnutrition can arise for several reasons. The main causes include, amongst others, a disease, the inability to eat or swallow as a result of a medical condition or after surgery, decreased appetite, an allergy or inability to tolerate or metabolize an essential nutrient.

Disease related malnutrition, as a result of inadequate nutritional intake during illness, can lead to frailty via loss of muscle mass, when body strength and walking speed are both reduced. This in turn reduces a patient's overall activity and energy levels. The vicious circle of reduced energy leading to more restrictions on physical activity can eventually lead to a loss of independence. Frail patients need extra medical attention to stay as independent for as long as possible and reducing the risk of them becoming dependent on others.

Conditions of aging, such as weight loss, declining muscle mass (‘sarcopenia’) and frailty, are often viewed as an inevitable part of growing old – not associated with a patient’s nutritional intake. In fact, as we get older, nutrition becomes an even greater factor in terms of its influence on functional ability.

Research suggests that nutritional intervention with medical nutrition products as part of a comprehensive medical strategy has been effective at helping patients return to a healthy aging trajectory.

Discover rich educational content from Nutricia’s presence at ESPEN 2022

If you missed the Nutricia Satellite Symposium at ESPEN, don’t miss the opportunity to watch top experts outline the value of muscle as the effective target organ for nutritional intervention in cancer, stroke and frailty, in addition to 8 expert sessions.

Protein Quality in Plant-Based Medical Nutrition

We understand the importance in offering plant based medical nutrition products to the increasing number of patients who embrace a plant-based diet and lifestyle. However, we also understand the necessity of ensuring that protein blends in medical nutrition products are high quality. Click here to learn more about protein quality in medical nutrition, and the quality of the protein blend we’ve used in our new, plant based oral nutritional supplement, Fortimel PlantBased Energy.

Infographic: Protein Quality in Medical Nutrition

This infographic explains protein quality and demonstrates the protein quality of dairy and plant proteins used in medical nutrition assessed using PDCAAS.

Individualized Nutritional Care

Individualized nutritional care puts the focus on the patient’s needs, preferences and goals. Delivering nutritional care with an individualized approach can help optimize adherence and patient outcomes.

Sarcopenia: How to recognize, diagnose and manage in clinical practice

Use this pocket card developed by Prof. Andrea Maier to understand the critical, yet simple steps to recognize and diagnose sarcopenia in clinical practice, as well as the role of protein supplementation and resistance exercise in management of the disease.

Sarcopenia: What, Who, Why, Impact and Treatment

Infographic outlining the established definition of sarcopenia, its prevalence along the patient journey, its underling lying cause and driving factors as well as the appropriate treatment methods for sarcopenia.

Clinical Value of Muscle-Targeted ONS with ActiSyn

The muscle-targeted oral nutritional supplement containing ActiSyn™ (100% whey protein, leucine and vitamin D) has 10 years of evidence behind it, demonstrating its efficacy across key clinical outcomes across varying patient populations and settings. View the complete evidence booklet to learn about the robust evidence to date.