Malnutrition, a common condition in older patients hospitalized in geriatric rehabilitation units (GRU), increases the risks of morbidity and hospital mortality, The consumption of oral nutritional supplements (ONS) can quickly lead to disgust explaining their low adherence. To evaluate the effect of adding high-protein mini-cakes (HP-HC) on the caloric and protein intakes of patients hospitalized in GRU who are malnourished or whose target dietary intakes are not reached with an enriched diet and traditional ONS. HP-HC mini-cakes were made available in addition to prescribed meals and ONS for 5 days (period 2) in patients aged over 65 whose clinical situation had been deemed stable for 3 days (period 1), Comparison of dietary intakes between periods 1 and 2 used the Wilcoxon test for paired data. Mean daily caloric and protein intakes were significantly higher in period 2 (1,529.1 ± 563.8 kcal/day and 69.4 ± 28,0 g/day, respectively) than in period 1 (1,234.5 ± 495.7 kcal/day and 53.7 ± 28.4 g/day, respectively) (p < 0,01), Moreover, the addition of minicakes did not significantly change caloric and protein intakes of meals and other ONS. No adverse effects were observed. The positive effect on caloric and protein intakes provided by HP-HC mini-cakes, new in their softness and new flavor, suggests their interest in the diversification of CNO prescribed in malnourished patients hospitalized in GRU.
Keywords: aged; dietary supplements; malnutrition; nutritional intake; rehabilitation centers.