Hospital nutrition in geriatric long-term care medicine: II. Effects of dietary supplements.

The effects of three different dietary supplements were studied in 28 women admitted to geriatric long-term care by recording the dietary intake, anthropometric variables and selected biochemical analyses before and during an 8-week experimental period. The validity of the dietary intake measurements was investigated and judged as acceptable. Before supplementation the mean daily intake of energy was 5.2 MJ/1247 kcal and vitamin D and thiamine were the nutrients most commonly deficient. One third of the patients had low dietary intake of vitamin A. The intake of ascorbic acid, riboflavine and calcium were appropriate. The mean values of haemoglobin, serum albumin, plasma prealbumin and transferrin were within reference limits despite the fact that a quarter of the patients had signs of inflammation. The dietary intake improved significantly during the experimental period in all three groups and the intake of energy increased by 25%. A gain of weight was noted in all groups. The level of serum retinol-binding protein increased in two of the groups. The suppression of the appetite due to supplementation was low and the intake of snacks decreased from 20% to 11% of the energy intake.