Introduction
Nutritional support refers to taking many vitamins and supplements. It has been used to promote healing and strength in the body. It has been used after surgery or illness. There are many supplements and combinations that are used for nutritional support. Nutritional support can be taken by mouth or injected into the bloodstream or digestive system by a healthcare provider.
Dosages
There are no advised doses for nutritional support.
What Research Shows
Likely Effective
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease —likely to improve nutrition, weight, and grip strength C1-C3
- Critically ill surgical patients —likely to provide benefit E1
- Hospitalized older adults—likely to provide benefit and improve quality of life I1
- Malnourishment—likely to promote wellness and improve recovery (especially after surgery) K1, K2
- Pressure ulcer —likely to promote healing L1
- Tuberculosis support—likely to provide benefit M1
May Be Effective
- Cancer treatment support —may ease symptoms A1, A2
- Chronic lower extremity wounds —may promote healing B1
- Gastrointestinal surgery—may dietary intake and improve body weight F1
- Hip fracture—may prevent complications G1
Not Enough Data to Assess
- Critically ill children D1
- Hospitalized adults at nutritional risk H1
- Liver disease J1
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.
Safety Notes
It is likely safe to use nutritional support for a short period. Not enough studies have been done to say whether it is safe to use for a long period.
Interactions
Talk to your doctor about any supplements or therapy you would like to use. Some can interfere with treatment or make conditions worse.
References
REFA Cancer Treatment Support
REFA1 Ward EJ, Henry LM, et al. Nutritional support in children and young people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(8):CD003298.
REFA2 Blackwood HA, Hall CC, et al. A systematic review examining nutrition support interventions in patients with incurable cancer. Support Care Cancer. 2019 Jul 29.
REFB Chronic Lower Extremity Wounds
REFB1 Ye J, Mani R. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Nutritional Supplementation in Chronic Lower Extremity Wounds. Int J Low Extrem Wounds. 2016 Dec;15(4):296-302.
REFC Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
REFC1 Collins PF, Stratton RJ, et al. Nutritional support in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2012;95(6):1385-1395.
REFC2 Ferreira IM, Brooks D, et al. Nutritional supplementation for stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Dec 12;12:CD000998.
REFC3 Collins PF, Elia M, et al. Nutritional support and functional capacity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Respirology. 2013;18(4):616-629.
REFD Critically Ill Children
REFD1 Joffe A, Anton N, et al. Nutritional support for critically ill children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 May 27;(5):CD005144.
REFE Critically Ill Surgical Patients
REFE1 Ledgard K, Mann B, et al. What is the evidence for the use of parenteral nutrition (PN) in critically ill surgical patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Tech Coloproctol. 2018 Oct;22(10):755-766.
REFF Gastrointestinal Surgery
REFF1 Vidal Casariego A, Calleja Fernández A, et al. Efficacy of enteral nutritional support after hospital discharge in major gastrointestinal surgery patients: a systematic review. Nutr Hosp. 2017 Jun 5;34(3):719-726.
REFG Hip Fracture
REFG1 Avenell A, Smith TO, et al. Nutritional supplementation for hip fracture aftercare in older people. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Nov 30;11:CD001880.
REFH Hospitalized Adults at Nutritional Risk
REFH1 Feinberg J, Nielsen EE, et al. Nutrition support in hospitalised adults at nutritional risk. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 May 19;5:CD011598.
REFI Hospitalized Older Adults
REFI1 Rasmussen NML, Belqaid K, et al. Effectiveness of multidisciplinary nutritional support in older hospitalised patients: A systematic review and meta-analyses. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2018 Oct;27:44-52.
REFJ Liver Disease
REFJ1 Koretz RL, Avenell A, et al. Nutritional support for liver disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;(5):CD008344.
REFK Malnourishment
REFK1 Zhong JX, Jang K, et al. Effect of nutritional support on clinical outcomes in perioperative malnourished patients: a meta-analysis. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2015;24(3):367-378.
REFK2 Bally MR, Blaser Yildirim PZ, et al. Nutritional Support and Outcomes in Malnourished Medical Inpatients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Intern Med. 2016;176(1):43-53.
REFL Pressure Ulcer
REFL1 Cereda E, Neyens JCL, et al. Efficacy of a Disease-Specific Nutritional Support for Pressure Ulcer Healing: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Nutr Health Aging. 2017;21(6):655-661.
REFM Tuberculosis Support
REFM1 Si ZL, Kang LL, et al. Adjuvant Efficacy of Nutrition Support During Pulmonary Tuberculosis Treating Course: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Chin Med J (Engl). 2015 Dec 5;128(23):3219-3230.