NCT03176030

Fortified Foods in Older Inpatients

Can Fortified Foods Improve Energy and Protein Intake in Older People Whilst in Hospital? A Pilot Study

• Status: Withdrawn
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 0 (actual)
• Sponsor: University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 70 Years – 100 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Malnutrition in older inpatients is a significant problem espicially among those with dementia. A number of methods have been used to tackle this issue and oral nutritional supplements (ONS) were proven to be the most effective way. However, they are limited by their poor tolerability due to lack of familiarity with these products. An alternative method is to fortify familiar food with protein, energy and micronutrient. thus, the aim of this study to test the feasibility and acceptability of delivering fortified foods to older patients whilst in hospital including those with dementia and frailty. This pilot study will compare the daily protein and energy intake in older people before and after offering fortified food. Furthermore, patients' likeability and staff acceptability of these fortified foods will be assessed.

Detailed description

Malnutrition is a significant problem amongst hospitalised older people, and can impede effective recovery. Oral nutritional supplements (ONS) are limited by their poor tolerability and an alternative strategy is food fortification, the addition of protein/energy/micronutrients to frequently eaten food. The aim of this pilot study is to establish the feasibility and acceptability of delivering fortified foods to older people including those who have dementia and frailty whilst in hospital and to assess whether fortified foods could increase the energy and protein intake. This is a quasi-experimental study on acute medical wards for older inpatient in two UK hospitals, with a before and after comparison. The intervention involves the provision of additional between-meal fortified foods (enhanced with protein, energy, and micronutrients) and meal supplementation. Daily energy and protein intake will be assessed for three consecutive days during the baseline period and then in the intervention period. Likeability of fortified food and food choices (the number, type, and frequency of fortified foods consumed) will be examined. Likeability of fortified food by patients will be assessed using likeability scales. Interviews or focus groups will be conducted with staff to assess the acceptability of fortified food. Costs related to developing, packing and delivering the fortified foods will be calculated. The findings of this pilot study will identify whether delivering fortified food is feasible in acute elderly care wards, which foods are preferred and their acceptability. The results will inform the design of a definitive clinical trial.

Conditions

• Malnutrition
• Dementia
• Aging
• Frail Elderly Syndrome

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT	Fortified Foods	The intervention under study is the provision of between-meal fortified foods (enhanced with protein, energy, and micronutrients) and meal supplementation where meals are poorly consumed. Foods will include both savory and sweet foods with different flavors. Foods will be matched as closely as possible in protein and energy and are calculated to provide typically 210 kcal and 5g protein per item. The volume / weight of the foods are standardized to be of relatively small portion size, such as 100 ml for ice-creams, 40 g for cakes and biscuits, and 100 ml for soup. Some of the products will be supplemented with micronutrients particularly needed by older adults, such as Vitamins (C, D, folic acid, B2, B6) and calcium at one third of the Dietary Reference Values (DRV) per portion. The aim is to achieve a daily consumption of two additional fortified food items.

Timeline

• Start date: 2017-09-01
• Primary completion: 2018-03-31
• Completion: 2018-03-31
• First posted: 2017-06-05
• Last updated: 2018-09-07

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United Kingdom