[Personalised nutrition care or standard care?]

Optimal nutrition is an important condition for optimal recovery from illness, both in and outside the hospital setting. In addition, in developed countries hospital-related malnutrition remains a major problem which can lead to complications, longer hospital stays and increased costs. The EFFORT study investigated if individualised nutritional support targeted at reaching protein and caloric goals, would reduce the risk of adverse outcomes. Achieving optimal nutrition is difficult due to illness-induced anorexia, inadequate education of medical doctors and little financial incentive. Guidelines focus on protein and energy, negating those illness-induced anorexia and individual patient aspects such as taste, portion size and eating habits. Although the EFFORT study showed benefit on the composite and individual endpoints, we should point out that the intervention group received standard care. Malnutrition needs multidisciplinary and transmural care including physiotherapy/exercise. As such, a more holistic approach is needed; optimal care as described by the EFFORT study should be the standard.