[Treatment of malnutrition: dietetic support and enteral nutrition]

Except in case of bowel obstruction or intestinal failure, nutritional support should be performed by oral or enteral route. In hospitalised patients, the decision of nutritional support depends on both nutritional state and spontaneous oral intake. Dietetic support can use energy enriched food and oral supplement. Enteral nutrition can be proposed in case of failure of dietetic support or at once in case of severe malnutrition or dysphagia. An early start and a good technique are conditions in order to improve outcome of patients.