The Beneficial Effects of Nutritional Supplements on the Malnutrition and Sarcopenia Risk in Elderly Living Alone

This study aims to examine the effects of meal delivery services on the nutritional status and mobility of malnourished older adults living alone at a foundation in Taoyuan. Participants will continue their usual diet and consume a daily oral nutrition supplement (ONS) of their preferred type (instant powder with milk or soy milk), provided monthly by social workers for 12 months. Nutritional assessments will be conducted every three months, including the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), anthropometric measures, and 24-hour dietary recall. Mobility will be evaluated using grip strength, walking speed, chair stand test, and calf circumference. Psychological outcomes will be assessed every six months using a quality-of-life questionnaire and the short form of the Geriatric Depression Scale. This study is expected to determine whether regular meal delivery services can improve nutritional status, mobility, quality of life, and depressive symptoms among elderly individuals living alone.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Valid Malnutrition Condition; Valid Sarcopenia; Valid Frailty
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: milk drinks

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Taiwan
  • Taipei, Taiwan, 110
    • Taipei Medical University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) score < 23.5, Body mass index (BMI) < 25 kg/m², Calf circumference: < 34 cm for men and < 33 cm for women, Handgrip strength: < 28 kg for men and < 18 kg for women

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of swallowing difficulties (dysphagia), Chronic renal failure, Bedridden and unable to ambulate, Older adults with chronic conditions-such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, or poorly controlled diabetes-who are deemed unsuitable after professional assessment

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: malnourished older adults living alone	Dietary supplement: milk drinks; Without adjusting their daily diet, they take oral nutrition supplements (ONS) once a day according to their favorite combination. The items include: instant powder with milk drinks or soy milk, which are distributed by social workers every month for a total of 12 months.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) score	Nutritional status is assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). The total MNA score ranges from 0 to 30, with lower scores indicating poorer nutritional status. The score is expressed as a total point value.	Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months
Change in body weight	Body weight is measured using a calibrated digital scale and expressed in kilograms (kg).	Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months
Change in body mass index (BMI)	BMI is calculated as body weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (kg/m²).	Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Change in skeletal muscle mass	Skeletal muscle mass is measured using a calibrated digital body composition analyzer based on bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and expressed in percentage (%).	Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Changes in calf circumference	Calf circumference is used as a surrogate indicator of muscle mass. Calf circumference is measured at the widest point of the non-dominant calf using a non-elastic measuring tape and expressed in centimeters (cm).	Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months
Changes in muscle strength	Muscle strength is assessed using handgrip dynamometry and expressed in kilograms (kg).	Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months
Change in five-times chair stand test time	Lower extremity muscle strength will be assessed using the five-times chair stand test. The time required to complete five consecutive chair rises will be recorded in seconds (s).	Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months
Change in gait speed	Usual gait speed is assessed using a standardized 6-meter walk test. Participants will be instructed to walk at their usual pace, and walking speed will be expressed in meters per second (m/s).	Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months
Changes in daily total energy intake	Daily energy intake is estimated using a 24-hour dietary recall and analyzed using nutrition analysis software. Energy intake will be expressed in kilocalories per day (kcal/day).	Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months
Change in daily protein intake	Daily protein intake is estimated using a 24-hour dietary recall and analyzed using nutrition analysis software. Protein intake is expressed in grams per day (g/day).	Baseline, 3months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Change in daily carbohydrate intake	Daily carbohydrate intake is estimated using a 24-hour dietary recall and expressed in grams per day (g/day).	Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Change in daily fat intake	Daily fat intake is estimated using a 24-hour dietary recall and expressed in grams per day (g/day).	Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months
Change in Short-Form Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-5) score	Depressive symptoms is assessed using the 5-item Short-Form Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-5). The total score ranges from 0 to 5, with higher scores indicating more severe depressive symptoms. Scores is expressed as total points.	Baseline, 6 months and 12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) score	Quality of life is assessed using the Taiwan version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). The instrument includes 26 items covering four domains (physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environment). Domain scores is transformed to a scale ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better quality of life.	Baseline, 6 months and 12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Taipei Medical University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 18, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 26, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): March 2, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 2, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 26, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: quality of life; nutritional status; depression; mobility; meal delivery service; elderly people living alone
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Depression
• Other Study ID Numbers: N202507097

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No