On admission, around 50% of patients have malnutrition, and many more acquire it while in the hospital. Undernutrition or overnutrition that results in altered body composition and impaired function is referred to as malnutrition. 2. Undernutrition resulting from either decreased intake or elevated metabolic rate is usually linked to malnutrition in hospitalized patients. Higher mortality, a worsened discharge functional status, an increased risk of nosocomial infections, longer hospital stays, and higher hospital expenses have all been linked to malnutrition. Reduced capacity to chew or swallow food, low appetite, and nil per os (NPO) status are some of the causes of decreased intake. Due to the consequences of the inflammatory condition, patients with acute or chronic illnesses may either be malnourished at arrival or develop malnutrition within a few days of admission to the hospital.

Prescription-only oral nutritional supplements (ONSs) are specialized liquids, semisolids, or powders that include macro- and micronutrients. Although ONSs should receive guidance on maximizing their use, this component may differ. ONSs are widely utilized in clinical practice to assist individuals who have been diagnosed as malnourished or at risk of becoming malnourished.⁴ Several components are employed in ONS. With so many different enteral formulae (polymeric, semi-elemental, and elemental) on the market, selecting the best one for a patient might be difficult. Standard formulas are usually well tolerated by patients and are less costly. On the other hand, there are situations where an elemental, semi-elemental, or modular answer may be more suited than an ordinary formula. Semi-elemental formulations contain peptides with different chain lengths and fat content, primarily in the form of MCT. Diets that are semi-elemental cost slightly more than diets that are polymeric, which consist of intact protein, long-chain triglycerides, and complex carbohydrates. However, in terms of tolerance and absorption, patients react more favorably to semi-elemental diets.

As a result, we carried out an observational study to assess the impact of oral nutritional supplements (ONS) based on whey peptide in hospitalized malnourished patients.