A study on liquid diet in geriatric patients.

The intake of energy and nutrients was studied during 16 days in nine geriatrics immobilized patients who had received a conventional liquid diet for an extended period of time. The intake of energy averaged only 870 kcal/24 h. Fat intake was very low, averaging 16 g/24 h, which corresponds to 17 per cent of the total energy intake. The mean protein intake was 33 g/24 h. To improve the energy and nutrient content a food supplementation was added to the liquid diet. During the following 16 days the intake of energy increased to a daily mean of 1380 kcal. Fat and protein intake increased to 38 and 73 g/24 h, respectively. No essential change in the volume consumed after addition of the food supplementation was observed. Urinary nitrogen excretion was analyzed during the study. A positive nitrogen balance occurred after the patients had received the food supplementation.