Disease-related malnutrition is frequent in patients with chronic pulmonary diseases. Though there is no doubt about the usefulness of Oral Nutritional Supplements (ONS) in managing malnutrition in such patients, only a handful of publications are available in the literature on clinical trials with ONS in this patient population. Since the digestion of macronutrients results in a strain on the respiratory functions in severe pulmonary diseases, the source of energy may also play a crucial role in the efficacy of nutrition with ONS in such patients. Here we present the study protocol of a randomized, open-label, multicentre clinical trial aimed to determine whether a new, condition-specific ONS (with a composition tailored to the needs of patients with decreased pulmonary functions) is more effective compared to a general ONS in improving the nutritional status in patients with compromised respiratory functions.
Oral nutritional supplements (ONSs) for cirrhotic patients undergoing liver resection assessed by ultrasound measurement of rectus femoris and anterior tibialis muscles thickness. Randomized clinical trial