Effectiveness of Oral Nutritional Supplements (ONS) in a Meals-on-Wheels Population

While it is well known that older adults are at increased nutritional risk and that nutrition intervention, such as oral nutritional supplementation (ONS) is beneficial in this population, there is limited research on the effect of oral nutritional supplements (ONS) in the Meals on Wheels population. This prospective randomized controlled trial will determine the effectiveness of oral nutritional supplements (ONS) in addition to daily meals from Meals on Wheels on weight status, hand grip strength, quality of life, and malnutrition screening scores in MOW clients with or at-risk of malnutrition over a 3-month study period.

Inclusion criteria

• Participant is Meals on Wheels Inc. of Tarrant County client.
• Participant is 60 years of age or older.
• Participant is identified as medium or high risk of malnutrition as defined by the MST (Medium Risk MST score =2-3 or High Risk MST score =4-5).
• Participant is willing and/or able to consume oral nutritional supplements (ONS).
• Participant provides written informed consent to participate in the study.
• Participant provides authorization to use and/or disclose personal and/or health data.

Exclusion criteria

• Patient cannot safely consume an oral nutritional supplement (ONS).

• Example Patient has active gastrointestinal disease (e.g., intestinal obstruction, inflammatory bowel disease, ischemic colitis, diverticulitis, irritable bowel disease, pancreatitis).
• Patient has Diabetes mellitus.