Selecting the right oral nutritional supplement (ONS) for your patients

SELECTING THE RIGHT ORAL NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENT (ONS) FOR YOUR PATIENTS

Guidance on optimising nutritional intake for your patients.

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MALNUTRITION IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS KEY NUTRIENTS CAN IMPROVE NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND MUSCLE HEALTH BENEFITS OF ORAL NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS FOR YOUR PATIENTS BENEFITS OF ORAL NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS FOR HEALTHCARE SERVICES CHOOSE THE RIGHT ABBOTT ONS FOR YOUR PATIENTS WITH OUR PATIENT ALGORITHM

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MALNUTRITION IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS

Malnutrition risk is increased in patients living with long-term conditions.¹ Malnutrition can have a significant and devastating impact on patient outcomes,¹ and is one of the main risk factors for muscle loss.^2-4

Many patients living with chronic conditions have insufficient food intake due to disease- and treatment-related factors such as:

Loss of appetite^5-7

Early satiety^5,6

Altered sense of taste and smell^5-7

Disturbed GI motility, digestion and absorption⁷

Increased energy expenditure⁷

There may be different strategies for managing malnutrition, depending on the patient’s nutritional risk:^*1

DIETARY ADVICE 

To optimise food intake

ORAL NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS 

May be used alongside dietary advice when food intake is insufficient

When determining the correct intervention, healthcare professionals should consider the physiological changes caused by the disease itself and associated treatments that may limit the effectiveness of a food-only approach.¹

For some patients with limited food intake, ONS may be considered earlier in the nutritional management strategy to minimise muscle loss, which may become irreversible without intervention.¹

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KEY NUTRIENTS CAN IMPROVE NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND MUSCLE HEALTH

Muscle Screening Icon

PROTEIN 

During times of illness and in older age, protein is frequently inadequate¹ however protein can help minimise the decline in muscle strength and function.⁸

ESPEN recommends at least 1g protein/kg body weight/day for older adults.⁹For patients living with certain health conditions, this can increase up to:

2g/kg/day - Severe illness, injury or malnutrition⁹
1.5g/kg/day - Cancer⁹, COPD⁵

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VITAMIN D 

Vitamin D acts directly on muscle to promote its function and can support improve skeletal muscle function.^10,11Vitamin D deficiency is linked to increased inflammation and muscle atrophy.¹²

BENEFITS OF ORAL NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS FOR YOUR PATIENTS

ONS usage is recommended by NICE guidelines,¹³and can positively influence your patients’ recovery and future outcomes:^{^14,15}

Improve energy, protein and macronutrient intake

Reduced risk of complications

Support weight and strength

Improve quality of life

Reduce mortality risk

BENEFITS OF ORAL NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS FOR HEALTHCARE SERVICES

Prescribing malnourished patients the right ONS for adult patients at risk of malnutrition is shown to have a significant impact on healthcare resource use:¹⁶

Reduced hospital stays (21%)

Reduced risk of readmission within 30 days (6.7%)

Reduced episode cost (21.6%)

Muscle Screening Icon

CHOOSE THE RIGHT ABBOTT ONS FOR YOUR PATIENTS WITH OUR PATIENT ALGORITHM

Patients with different conditions may have different nutrient deficiencies and nutritional requirements to help support their recovery - so it’s important to select the right option.

Nutritional supplements are specially formulated to support the varied dietary needs of patients with different conditions.

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ENSURE PLUS ADVANCE

High protein ONS with increased vitamin D and HMB, shown to improve strength and function in malnourished patients.^#17

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VITAL 1.5KCAL

Peptide-based ONS for patients experiencing symptoms of malabsorption.

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ENSURE TWO CAL

For patients with high calorie requirements.^†

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ENSURE COMPACT

For patients who require low volume.^‡

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ENSURE PLUS JUCE

Juice-style ONS for patients who don’t enjoy milkshake-style or want variety of styles^**

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ENSURE STARTER PACKS

Good compliance to ONS is essential to maximise the clinical benefit,¹⁸ and compliance improves when patients like their ONS.¹⁹

Flavour variety has a direct, positive impact on ONS compliance,²⁰ which is why we’ve put together mixed flavour starter packs. This gives your patients the opportunity to try the whole range and request the flavours they like best.

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RELATED RESOURCES

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Ways to screen

Main Image
Tagname: TOOL
title: Strength for Life: Ways to screen
Abstract: Muscle strength and function measurements are an effective part of routine screening and are typically non-invasive, inexpensive and convenient for the patient. Early assessment and intervention is critical to improve patient outcomes
Content Reference: /content/an/hcpproconnect/uk/en/home/adult/resources/public/sfl-ways-to-screen-v2

Ensure Plus Advance Case Study: Doreen

Doreen, a retired mother of two, suffered a serious fall while she was out shopping, which led to her having to spend eight weeks in hospital, recovering from a fractured neck of femur.

Main Image
Tagname: CASE STUDY
title: Ensure Plus Advance Case Study: Doreen
Abstract: Doreen, a retired mother of two, suffered a serious fall while she was out shopping, which led to her having to spend eight weeks in hospital, recovering from a fractured neck of femur.
Content Reference: /content/an/hcpproconnect/uk/en/home/adult/resources/public/ensure-plus-advance-cs-doreen-v2

Ensure Plus Case Study: Maggie

Maggie is an 83 year old female with osteoporosis and high blood presure.

Main Image
Tagname: CASE STUDY
title: Ensure Plus Case Study: Maggie
Abstract: Maggie is an 83 year old female with osteoporosis and high blood presure. She is housebound and lives on her own. Maggie's dietary intake was poor, so she was prescribed a powder-based oral nutritional supplement (ONS) twice daily.
Content Reference: /content/an/hcpproconnect/uk/en/home/adult/resources/public/ensure-plus-cs-maggie-v2

Footnotes:

ONS - Oral nutritional supplement
ESPEN - European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism
COPD - Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
GI - Gastrointestinal
*Assuming the patient can take nutrition orally.
^Studies included ready-to-consume, multi-nutrient (complete or incomplete), liquid or semi-solid products providing a mix of macronutrients and micronutrients.
#Strength and functionality were measured by handgrip strength in a post hoc analysis of over 600 malnourished people with heart or lung diseases, age 65 or older. Ensure Plus Advance was consumed twice daily for 90 days.
†E.g. younger and/or highly mobile patients who may utilise more energy in their activities of daily living.
‡Clinical conditions where a patient may require low volume include: fluid restrictions, renal disease, liver disease.
** Ensure Plus juce contains milk protein.

References:

1. Malnutrition Pathway, 2021. Managing Adult Malnutrition in the Community. Available online: https://www.malnutritionpathway.co.uk/library/managing_malnutrition.pdf Last accessed May 2025
2.Landi F et al. Clin Nutr 2019;38(5):2113-2120.
3. Argiles JM et al. JAMDA 2016;17:789-796.
4.Malnutrition Pathway, 2021. Sarcopenia: loss of muscle mass. A healthcare professional factsheet. Available online: https://www.malnutritionpathway.co.uk/library/factsheet_sarcopenia.pdf. Last accessed May 2024
5. Malnutrition Pathway. Managing malnutrition in COPD. 2023. https://www.malnutritionpathway.co.uk/library/mm_copd.pdf. Accessed December 2024.
6.Norman L et al. Nutrients. 2021;13(8):2764.
7. Arends J. Eur J Surg Oncol 2024;107074.
8.Deutz NE et al. Clin Nutr 2014;33(6):929-936.
9.Volkert D et al. Clin Nutr 2019;38(1):10-47.
10. Wagatsuma A. and Sakuma K. Biomed Res Int 2014;2014:121254.2.Landi F et al. Clin Nutr 2019;38(5):2113-2120.
11. European Food Safety Authority. EFSA J 2011;9(9):2382.
12.Dzik KP & Kaczor JJ. Eur J Appl Physiol 2019;119:825-839.
13. NICE. Nutrition support for adults. 2017. Available online https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg32/resources/nutrition-support-for-adults-oral-nutrition-support-enteral-tube-feeding-and-parenteral-nutrition-pdf-975383198917 (Last accessed July 2025)
14.Elia M et al. Clin Nutr 2016;35:370-380.
15. Elia M et al. Clin Nutr 2016;35:125-137.
16.Philipson TJ et al. American Journal of Managed Care. 2013; 19(2):121-128.
17.Matheson EM et al. Clin Nutr 2021;40(3):844-849.
18.Nelson JL. Clin Nutr Exp. 2019;28:123-130.
19. Lester S et al. J Nutr Health Aging. 2022;26(7):663-674.
20.Hubbard GP et al. Clin Nutr. 2012;31(3):293-312.

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