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Many hospitalized older adults have malnutrition, but whether nutritional interventions improve clinical outcomes is not clear (). To learn more, researchers conducted a Cochrane meta-analysis of 21 randomized trials examining potential associations between various nutritional interventions and mortality, adverse events, and other clinical end points. The trials, involving about 3300 patients (mean age, 75–85 years), defined malnutrition using anthropometric measures or validated screening instruments.
Oral nutritional supplements (often, commercially available shakes or drinks) were associated with significantly lower all-cause mortality by 1 month or hospital discharge, compared with standard care; the number need…