MUSCLE & PATIENT OUTCOMES: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

Dr Pereira explains the role of nutritional ingredients such as protein and β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) in preserving muscle during aging and catabolic conditions. She presents recent scientific evidence demonstrating the benefits of specialized oral nutritional supplements containing protein, HMB and energy on improving outcomes such as recovery, wound healing and mortality in high risk populations such as hospitalized comorbid older patients and older hip fracture patients. Dr Pereira also discusses new evidence showing that sarcopenia—loss of muscle and function—is a major economic burden to hospitals.