Subjectively healthy elderly consuming a liquid nutrition supplement maintained body mass index and improved some nutritional parameters and perceived well-being.

What Was Tested

Researchers studied the intervention named in the title in this randomized controlled trial publication.

To evaluate regular use of a liquid nutrition supplement by subjectively healthy elderly persons in terms of body mass index, nutrient intake, selected biochemical parameters, and perceived quality-of-life changes, and to identify advantages and limitations of use.

Why It Was Studied

Results were analyzed by Student t tests or Wilcoxon rank sum test, analysis of variance, and multiple stepwise regression.

Dietetics professionals should address the issues of affordability of the supplement, the role of food in achieving nutritional adequacy, and overall quality of life of clients.

Who Took Part

The study group was 36 subjects.

By PubMed's age tags, the people studied were older adults, both men and women.

Subjects were without functional limitations and did not require therapeutic diets or medical treatments that affect nutritional status.

Blood for analysis was obtained from a subsample of 36 subjects.

How the Study Was Run

In design terms this was a randomized study.

Random assignment meant chance, not the researchers, decided who got the intervention named in the title and who got the comparison, which limits bias.

Data were collected in home interviews.

What Was Measured

Results were analyzed by Student t tests or Wilcoxon rank sum test, analysis of variance, and multiple stepwise regression.

The subject headings attached to it are Body Mass Index, Calcium, Dietary Supplements, Eating, Ferritins, Folic Acid and Hemoglobins.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized study in 36 subjects.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

Its findings take up roughly 6 sentences of the abstract and are left out here on purpose; the source paper is the place to read them.

The publication is from 1999 (Journal of the American Dietetic Association), a journal based in United States.

More context: all human trials.