Daily oral supplementation during and after a hospital stay improved nutritional status in elderly patients, but did not affect weight change.

Patients: 80 patients >75 years of age (mean age 80 y, 76% women) who were at risk of malnutrition (total Mini Nutritional Assessment [MNA] score between 17 and 23.5). Exclusion criteria: medical conditions preventing oral feeding, patients at end of life, severe dementia (Mini Mental Score ,10), clinical signs of dehydration or heart failure, and diseases requiring special dietary treatment (kidney or liver failure).