This trial was registered on http://www.trialregister.nl (candidate number 1660, NTR number NTR476, ISRCTN29617677, date ISRCTN created 27-jan-2006).
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Clinical Investigations
Short-Term Oral Nutritional Intervention with Protein and Vitamin D Decreases Falls in Malnourished Older Adults
Article first published online: 8 FEB 2012
DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2011.03888.x
© 2012, Copyright the Authors Journal compilation © 2012, The American Geriatrics Society
Additional Information
How to Cite
Neelemaat, F., Lips, P., Bosmans, J. E., Thijs, A., Seidell, J. C. and van Bokhorst-de van der Schueren, M. A. E. (2012), Short-Term Oral Nutritional Intervention with Protein and Vitamin D Decreases Falls in Malnourished Older Adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 60: 691–699. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2011.03888.x
Oral and poster presentation at the ESPEN 2011 congres (Göteborg – Sweden).
Publication History
- Issue published online: 11 APR 2012
- Article first published online: 8 FEB 2012
Funded by
- Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- falls;
- elderly patients;
- nutritional intervention;
- protein;
- energy;
- vitamin D;
- RCT
Objectives
To evaluate the effects of a short-term nutritional intervention with protein and vitamin D on falls in malnourished older adults.
Design
Randomized controlled trial.
Setting
From hospital admission until 3 months after discharge.
Participants
Malnourished older adults (≥60) newly admitted to an acute hospital (n = 210).
Intervention
Participants were randomized to receive nutritional intervention (energy- and protein-enriched diet, oral nutritional supplements, calcium-vitamin D supplement, telephone counseling by a dietitian) for 3 months after discharge or usual care.
Measurements
Number of participants who fell, fall incidents, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and dietary intake. Measurements were performed on admission to hospital and 3 months after discharge.
Results
Three months after discharge, 10 participants (10%) in the intervention group had fallen at least once, compared with 24 (23%) in the control group (hazard ratio = 0.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.19–0.86). There were 57 fall incidents (16 in the intervention group; 41 in the control group). A significantly higher intake of energy (280 kcal, 95% CI = 37–524 kcal) and protein (11 g, 95% CI = 1–25 g) and significantly higher serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels (10.9 nmol/L, 95% CI = 2.9–18.9 nmol/L) were found in participants in the intervention group than in controls.
Conclusion
A short-term nutritional intervention consisting of oral nutritional supplements and calcium and vitamin D supplementation and supported by dietetic counseling in malnourished older adults decreases the number of patients who fall and fall incidents.