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utumn is definitely my favorite season. I know that may seem funny coming from someone who lives in Florida, a state that has only 3 seasons: hot, hotter, and hottest. When I mention Autumn, it probably conjures up images of leaves turning, crisp air, and cute sweater sets. I also, however, envision the largest meeting of nutrition professionals in the world, which is held every October. The Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo (FNCE), sponsored by the American Dietetic Association (ADA), brings together thousands of nutrition and health professionals for education and networking.
       One of the highlights of FNCE is its exposition, where hundreds of vendors fill aisle after aisle to showcase their latest and hottest nutrition products. My heart always skips a few beats as I enter the hall in search of new ideas that may solve some of the problems my patients face. The proliferation of new products on the market has made nutrition intervention programs very exciting, and it offers facilities the opportunity to individualize nutrition care. For example, some residents prefer sweet flavors, others like citrus, and others drink only coffee or tea. The saying, “To each his own,” also applies to nutrition interventions. Here is some product news you can use to expand your facility’s nutrition intervention programs.

Pro-Stat™ (Medical Nutrition USA, Inc., Englewood, NJ)

       Pro-Stat™ is a predigested, liquid protein supplement designed for patients with increased protein needs. It contains a complete amino acid profile (essential and nonessential amino acids) and provides 15 grams of protein per 1-ounce serving. The product has shown positive indications for dialysis and cancer patients, the treatment of pressure ulcers and wound healing, patients with low albumin levels, and patients who are generally at nutritional risk. The product is also suitable for bariatric surgery patients. It is well tolerated, mixes well with a large number of liquids and foods, and has tested well for taste and texture. The product is available in butter pecan and cherry flavors and comes in 3 forms: 1 for people with sugar restrictions (sweetened with sucralose), 1 sweetened with fructose, and 1 for tube feeding that is less viscous.

Pronutra™ (NuMedTec, Stockton, Calif)

       ProNutra™ is a bioactive, cystine-rich protein supplement specifically designed for nutritional support of patients with immune system challenges and issues like pressure ulcers, wound healing, methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), or protein-energy malnutrition (PEM). It contains a patented whey protein isolate and is fortified with zinc, omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, and several key antioxidant vitamins (A, C, and E). The product provides the body with cystine, the optimal form of the amino acid cysteine, which is needed for cells to synthesize glutathione. Glutathione is needed to maintain and strengthen the immune system and red blood cell production. ProNutra comes in single-serve, disposable plastic bottles. It is easy to mix: just add water, shake gently, and enjoy a tropical fruit-flavored drink. ProNutra may be added to oral and tube-administered enteral products and may be thickened for dysphagia patients.

Cold Fusion (Cold Fusion Foods, Culver City, Calif)

       Cold Fusion Foods has introduced 100% whey protein dessert snacks. Cold Fusion Frozen Protein Bars look and taste like ice cream but contain greater amounts of protein. Each 3-ounce snack bar or cup contains 11 grams of protein and 100% of the recommended daily amounts for most antioxidants, including Vitamins A, C, and E as well as biotin, selenium, manganese, and chromium. These bars contain no fat, lactose, cholesterol, or refined sugars, making them suitable for many types of patients. They offer a tasty, refreshing, nutritional source of protein and vitamins with 130 to 140 calories per serving. The product is available in bars and cups and comes in chocolate, berry, orange, and key lime flavors.

Juven® (Ross Products Division of Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Ill)

       Juven® is a powdered drink mix that contains a blend of arginine, glutamine, and beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB). Nine clinical studies have demonstrated that 3 grams per day of supplemental HMB helped increase muscle mass compared to baseline. Arginine and glutamine help support protein synthesis and maintain a healthy immune system. Together, these 3 ingredients work to minimize muscle breakdown and rebuild muscle tissue. Each serving of Juven contains 1.5 grams of HMB, 7 grams of arginine, and 7 grams of glutamine. Two servings per day are recommended. The product comes in orange and grape flavors. To serve, 1 packet is mixed with 8 to 10 ounces of water.

Re/Gen (Nutra/Balance, Indianapolis, Ind)

       Re/Gen is the replacement for Re/Neph and is currently available in frozen form. It is scheduled to be available in a shelf-stable formula sometime in 2005. Along with Re/Neph, Re/Gen is the only high-protein, high-calorie, renal-specific supplement available in a 4-ounce serving. Re/Gen is also the only renal-specific protein supplement to come in a no-sugar-added variety for diabetic patients. With 10 grams of protein and 250 calories per 4-ounce serving, Re/Gen offers a tasty, compact source of nutrition for renal patients. The product comes in vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and no-sugar-added vanilla flavors.

Purée Elegance (InterNutra, Cincinnati, Ohio)

       Purée Elegance won the 2004 “Best in Class” award (Food Service) from the American Culinary Institute for its delicious, high-quality, and aesthetically pleasing pureed foods. Purée Elegance are single-serve portions of puréed meats, fruits, and vegetables shaped and molded to resemble the foods’ original form. This product offers a cost-effective way to improve patients’ quality of life by extending the “dining with dignity” concept. Patients eat foods that resemble what they ate when they were on a regular diet, allowing them a sense of normalcy within the restrictions of their therapeutic diets. Purée Elegance is available in more than 20 varieties, and the convenient single-serve packaging allows for increased menu variety.

Med Pass 2.0® No Sugar Added (Hormel HealthLabs, Austin, Minn)

       Introduced last year, Med Pass 2.0® No Sugar Added is designed to offer a calorically dense, carbohydrate-controlled formula without sugar, which allows healthcare facilities to broaden their medication pass programs. Med Pass 2.0® No Sugar Added is well suited for patients diagnosed with diabetes, glucose intolerance, or stress-induced hyperglycemia. It is also a good source of fiber, which may help lower cholesterol levels and improve glucose tolerance, bowel regularity, and blood pressure. The product is available in vanilla.

Additions™ (Nestlé Clinical Nutrition, Glendale, Calif)

       Additions™ Calorie and Protein Food Enhancer is a quick-dissolving, neutral-flavored powder that can be added to a wide variety of hot foods and hot beverages to provide extra calories and protein. It is a convenient and easy way to use regular food as a source of supplemental nutrition for individuals who cannot eat enough to meet their nutritional needs. Each serving (1 scoop, or 19 grams) adds 100 calories and 6 grams of quality protein to prepared foods while maintaining the original taste of the food with which it is mixed. This product is well suited for patients who refuse between-meal supplements.

Optima Smoothies (Slim-Fast® Foods Company, West Palm Beach, Fla)

       Some patients do not like “medical” drinks/products and prefer to stick with more traditional options. Optima Smoothies may be just what they need. While you may be thinking that Slim-Fast® is only for dieters, these products can be used as meal replacements or between-meal supplements. The new fruit Smoothies come in appealing bottles with resealable twist caps and provide 190 calories and 12 grams of protein per 11-ounce bottle. The Optima line of products has a reduced-sugar formulation with as much as 50% less sugar than previous products. The Smoothies are available in mixed berry, peach, tropical orange, and strawberry flavors.

Resource® Arginaid® (Novartis Medical Nutrition, St. Louis Park, Minn)

       Resource® Arginaid® is an arginine-intensive, powdered beverage mix that provides 4.5 grams of arginine per serving. Arginine supplementation has been linked to improved wound healing and immune function. This product is simple to prepare and requires about a minute of preparation time. An individual packet is added to a 6- to 8-ounce glass of water and briskly stirred. The mixes are available in cherry, lemon, and orange flavors. It is also available as a ready-to-serve product called Resource Arginaid Extra®, which comes in an 8-ounce brick pack. Each serving of Resource Arginaid Extra contains 250 calories, 10.5 grams of protein, 250 mg of vitamin C, 15 mg of zinc, and several other nutrients. This product is available in 2 flavors: orange and wild berry.

Expanding Your Program

       This is a just a taste of the many products available. There are dozens of disease-specific products for everything from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to dysphagia, to renal disease, and many more.
       Until recently, small facilities and home-care patients did not have access to a wide variety of medical nutrition products; most facilities can store only a limited number of products and may have difficulty meeting the minimum orders imposed by traditional suppliers. Local drugstores carry only the most common products, and most have never heard of many of the newer products.
       One solution to this problem is a Florida-based company called 4WebMed. This company was started when the owner’s mother and grandmother were ill, and he could not find the nutrition products they were served in the hospital for home use. He called the company that made the product in question and was told there was a minimum order of 100 cases. In response, he started a company to help others in the same situation. 4WebMed stocks more than 100 nutrition products, including frozen and shelf-stable products, and will allow customers to break cases, mix flavors, and even combine products from different manufacturers. This flexibility can help patients at home but is also available to facilities that wish to offer a greater variety of products in order to meet each patient’s individual tastes and preferences without minimum orders or long contracts.
       Nutrition and supplement programs of the new millennium offer a wide variety of flavors, tastes, and textures. With a little creativity, a little education, and innovative products from a variety of vendors, we can make great strides in improving the nutritional health of our patients and residents.

Helpful Websites:

• www.4webmed.com
• www.eatright.org
• www.pro-stat.info
• www.pronutra.us
• www.numedtec.com
• www.coldfusionfoods.com
• www.juven.com
• www.nutra-balance-products.com
• www.internutra.com
• www.hormelhealthlabs.com
• www.nestleclinicalnutrition.com
• www.slimfast.com
• www.novartisnutrition.com

(Editor’s note: The author has no proprietary or financial interest in any product mentioned in this article. All product information came from company websites and company literature.)