Senior Lecturer, Sheffield Institute for Studies on Ageing, The University of Sheffield, Barnsley General Hospital, Gawber Road, Barnsley S75 2EP,United Kingdom. Tel : +44 (0) 1226-730000-Ext 2232. Fax : + 44 (0) 1226-777705

Abstract: There are now many studies which have found that undernutrition is prevalent and often unrecognized in patients admitted to hospitals and institutions. There is also evidence which links protein-energy undernutrition or its markers with clinical outcomes in acute and non-acute hospital settings and that nutritional supplements can improve outcomes in some of these settings. Active nutritional support following the catabolic phase of acute illness and extending during the rehabilitation period may be of particular benefit in improving nutritional intake, status and or outcome. A randomized controlled trial is therefore needed to test this hypothesis. (Journ. of Nutr. Health & Aging 2000; 1: 25-27)