Medical Nutrition Therapy

MNT: Interventions for Adults with Malnutrition (2023-25)

Intervention
In adults with protein-energy malnutrition, what is the association between medical nutrition therapy (MNT) provided by a dietitian compared to usual care and nutrition status?
- Conclusion
  In adults with protein-energy malnutrition, medical nutrition therapy (MNT) provided by a dietitian may be associated with improved nutrition status in an outpatient setting; yet, MNT may have no significant effect on nutrition status in an inpatient setting. However, the association in both settings is uncertain, secondary to risk of bias, indirectness and imprecision.
- Grade: Very Low (D)
  - Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
  - Grade II is Fair;
  - Grade III is Limited/Weak;
  - Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
  - Grade V is Not Assignable.
  - High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
  - Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
  - Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
  - Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
  - Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
- Evidence Summary: In adults with protein-energy malnutrition what is the association between medical nutrition therapy (MNT) provided by a dietitian compared to usual care and nutrition status?
- Search Plan and Results: MNT: Interventions for Adults with Malnutrition (2025)
In adults with protein-energy malnutrition, what is the association between medical nutrition therapy (MNT) provided by a dietitian compared to usual care and weight?
- Conclusion
  In adults with protein-energy malnutrition, the association between MNT provided by a dietitian and weight in outpatient settings is uncertain. However, MNT compared to usual care may increase weight [MD 2.20 kg 95% CI (0.97, 3.42] in in-patient settings.
- Grade: Low (C)
  - Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
  - Grade II is Fair;
  - Grade III is Limited/Weak;
  - Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
  - Grade V is Not Assignable.
  - High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
  - Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
  - Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
  - Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
  - Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
- Evidence Summary: In adults with protein-energy malnutrition, what is the effect of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) provided by a dietitian compared to usual care and weight?
- Search Plan and Results: MNT: Interventions for Adults with Malnutrition (2025)
In adults with protein-energy malnutrition, what is the association between medical nutrition therapy (MNT) provided by a dietitian compared to usual care and body mass index?
- Conclusion
  In adults with protein-energy malnutrition, the association between MNT provided by a dietitian and body mass index is uncertain secondary to risk of bias and imprecision.
- Grade: Very Low (D)
  - Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
  - Grade II is Fair;
  - Grade III is Limited/Weak;
  - Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
  - Grade V is Not Assignable.
  - High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
  - Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
  - Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
  - Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
  - Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
- Evidence Summary: In adults with protein-energy malnutrition, what is the effect of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) provided by a dietitian compared to no MNT or usual care on BMI?
- Search Plan and Results: MNT: Interventions for Adults with Malnutrition (2025)
In adults with protein-energy malnutrition, what is the association between medical nutrition therapy (MNT) provided by a dietitian compared to usual care and handgrip strength?
- Conclusion
  In adults with protein-energy malnutrition, the effect of MNT on handgrip strength is uncertain.
- Grade: Very Low (D)
  - Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
  - Grade II is Fair;
  - Grade III is Limited/Weak;
  - Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
  - Grade V is Not Assignable.
  - High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
  - Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
  - Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
  - Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
  - Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
- Evidence Summary: In adults with protein-energy malnutrition, what is the association between medical nutrition therapy (MNT) provided by a dietitian compared to usual care and handgrip strength?
- Search Plan and Results: MNT: Interventions for Adults with Malnutrition (2025)
In adults with protein-energy malnutrition, what is the association between medical nutrition therapy (MNT) provided by a dietitian compared to usual care and calorie and protein intake?
- Conclusion
  In adults with protein-energy malnutrition, the effect of MNT on calorie and protein intake could not be determined due to very low certainty evidence.
- Grade: Very Low (D)
  - Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
  - Grade II is Fair;
  - Grade III is Limited/Weak;
  - Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
  - Grade V is Not Assignable.
  - High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
  - Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
  - Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
  - Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
  - Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
- Evidence Summary: In adults with protein-energy malnutrition, what is the association between medical nutrition therapy (MNT) provided by a dietitian compared to usual care and calorie and protein intake?
- Search Plan and Results: MNT: Interventions for Adults with Malnutrition (2025)
In adults with protein-energy malnutrition, what is the association between medical nutrition therapy (MNT) provided by a dietitian compared to usual care and mortality?
- Conclusion
  In adults with protein-energy malnutrition, the association between MNT provided by a dietitian and mortality is uncertain secondary to risk of bias, imprecision and indirectness.
- Grade: Very Low (D)
  - Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
  - Grade II is Fair;
  - Grade III is Limited/Weak;
  - Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
  - Grade V is Not Assignable.
  - High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
  - Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
  - Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
  - Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
  - Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
- Evidence Summary: In adults with protein-energy malnutrition, what is the effect of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) provided by a dietitian compared to usual care on mortality?
- Search Plan and Results: MNT: Interventions for Adults with Malnutrition (2025)
In adults with protein-energy malnutrition, what is the association between medical nutrition therapy (MNT) provided by a dietitian compared to usual care and quality of life?
- Conclusion
  In adults with protein-energy malnutrition in inpatient settings, MNT provided by a dietitian may improve quality of life compared to no MNT. However, the effect of MNT provided by a dietitian in outpatient settings is uncertain.
- Grade: Low (C)
  - Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
  - Grade II is Fair;
  - Grade III is Limited/Weak;
  - Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
  - Grade V is Not Assignable.
  - High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
  - Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
  - Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
  - Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
  - Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
- Evidence Summary: In adults with protein-energy malnutrition, what is the association between medical nutrition therapy (MNT) provided by a dietitian compared to usual care and quality of life?
- Search Plan and Results: MNT: Interventions for Adults with Malnutrition (2025)
In adults with protein-energy malnutrition, what is the association between medical nutrition therapy (MNT) provided by a dietitian compared to usual care and length of stay?
- Conclusion
  In adults with protein-energy malnutrition, MNT provided by a dietitian may reduce length of stay compared to no MNT though certainty of evidence was low.
- Grade: Low (C)
  - Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
  - Grade II is Fair;
  - Grade III is Limited/Weak;
  - Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
  - Grade V is Not Assignable.
  - High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
  - Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
  - Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
  - Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
  - Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
- Evidence Summary: In adults with protein-energy malnutrition, what is the association between medical nutrition therapy (MNT) provided by a dietitian compared to usual care and length of stay?
- Search Plan and Results: MNT: Interventions for Adults with Malnutrition (2025)
In adults with protein-energy malnutrition, what is the association between medical nutrition therapy (MNT) provided by a dietitian compared to usual care and hospital readmissions?
- Conclusion
  In adults with protein-energy malnutrition, data suggests that MNT may reduce the hospital readmission rate. However, certainty of evidence was very low to moderate.
- Grade: Low (C)
  - Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
  - Grade II is Fair;
  - Grade III is Limited/Weak;
  - Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
  - Grade V is Not Assignable.
  - High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
  - Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
  - Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
  - Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
  - Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
- Evidence Summary: In adults with protein-energy malnutrition, what is the association between medical nutrition therapy (MNT) provided by a dietitian compared to usual care and hospital readmissions?
- Search Plan and Results: MNT: Interventions for Adults with Malnutrition (2025)
In adults with protein-energy malnutrition, what is the cost-effectiveness of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) provided by a dietitian compared to usual care?
- Conclusion
  The cost-effectiveness of MNT for adults with protein-energy malnutrition is uncertain due to very low certainty evidence secondary to risk of bias and limited available evidence.
- Grade: Very Low (D)
  - Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
  - Grade II is Fair;
  - Grade III is Limited/Weak;
  - Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
  - Grade V is Not Assignable.
  - High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
  - Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
  - Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
  - Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
  - Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
- Evidence Summary: In adults with protein-energy malnutrition, what is the effect of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) provided by a dietitian compared to no MNT or usual care on cost-effectiveness?
  - Detail
  - Quality Rating Summary
    For a summary of the Quality Rating results, click here.
  - Worksheets
    
    Sharma Y, Thompson C, Miller M, Shahi R, Hakendorf P, Horwood C, Kaambwa B. Economic evaluation of an extended nutritional intervention in older Australian hospitalized patients: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Geriatrics 2018; 18:41
- Search Plan and Results: MNT: Interventions for Adults with Malnutrition (2025)