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Oral nutrition supplements are prescribable products that can be used as a simple, effective method of providing nutrition support to people who are malnourished. It is important that there is a regional standardised approach to prescribing these products.

Options for oral nutrition supplements should be considered for any people taking inadequate food and fluid to meet their requirements. Proprietary oral nutrition supplements can be prescribed for conditions, including disease related malnutrition, as detailed in British National Formulary²² and may be first line where clinically indicated.

The aim of oral nutrition supplements is to complement the patient's overall nutritional and fluid intake in order to improve clinical outcomes. It is important that the total intake from normal food plus oral nutrition supplements provides a balanced mix of energy, protein and micronutrients.

Oral nutrition supplements should be stopped when the patient is established on adequate oral intake from normal food.