Nutrition

Caring for Life > Nutrition > Malnutrition

Malnutrition

Malnutrition can create serious problems – weakened immunity, immobility, infection, lowered healing ability, easy to falling down and bone fracture. Dysphagia of elderly, no teeth to chew food, taste bud change because of medicine, lack of appetite – all of the above can cause malnutrition.

Malnutrition and its involuntary weight loss are common in the elderly. This can cause serious health problems. However, malnutrition in elderly is usually undiscovered. It is recommended that all elderly should have regular nutrition assessment. Malnutrition elderly is usually caused by aging, illness, different treatments, social environments etc. Elderly with malnutrition should find out the cause and be treated accordingly. Increase nutrition intake is necessary. To get the best result, treatment of elderly with malnutrition needs a team effort of health care professionals.1

Malnutrition usually happens in the following people:

  • Elderly
  • Patient, especially those with chronic disease
  • Patient before and after the surgery

According to the study, one-fourth of those in the hospital and one-third of those in the aged home probably have the risk of malnutrition.2

Balanced diet can help:3

  • Increase weight
  • Strengthen muscle, body function and mobility
  • Increase quality of life
  • Reduce morbidity and chance of complications
  • Reduce length of hospital stay

To tailor for the situation of insufficient nutrition intake and food intake constraint, there is nutritional supplement with balanced nutrition and high energy content, esp catering for people with extra nutrition need. It can provide various nutrition ingredients to your body, either for daily nutrition supplement or for meal replacement.

(For more details, please refer to Product Information – standard nutrition)

References:
  1. 臨床醫學 2011; 67: 304-10
  2. MINI: Medical Nutritional International Industry. Oral Nutritional Supplements to tackle malnutrition. A summary of the evidence base. Third version 2002.
  3. Fresubin Powder Fibre. Short scientific product rationale (version 03). Revised in March 2014.