PTINR.com
8 ounce Meals
Tuesday, March 1, 2005
PTINR.com Staff
Today's liquid supplement beverages provide protein, calories and vitamins for seniors on the go. The vitamin K content is something they need to slow down for and read the label.
It wasn't many years ago you almost had to be admitted to a hospital to consume an Ensure© milkshake…now these energy beverages with vitamins and minerals for use as a meal replacement or snack alternative are everywhere. Joining Ensure© is now Boost© , Equate and other store brands promising a full meal in an 8 oz drink.
Originally designed for hospitalized patients that were unable to swallow, today's meal replacement beverages are loaded with all the things we need on the go: protein, fiber, calcium and an alphabet of vitamins.
As we age our appetite decreases – these 8 ounce meals in a bottle provides the full nutrition a full meal would have. An important feature of these products is the high content of vitamin K and vitamin C. Below is a table representing how consumers can achieve high concentrations of vitamins K and C in as little as one meal.
|
Product |
Vitamin K |
Vitamin C |
Cost Per 8oz | |||
| - |
% Daily needs |
% Daily needs |
- | |||
|
Ensure©; Plus |
25% |
50% |
$1.45/serving | |||
|
Ensure©; w/Calcium |
35% |
70% |
$1.25/serving | |||
|
Ensure©; w/Fiber |
25% |
50% |
$1.25/serving | |||
|
Ensure©; w/Protein |
25% |
50% |
$1.25/serving | |||
|
Boost©; |
% 40% |
100% |
$1.37/serving | |||
|
Boost©; /High Protein |
40% |
100% |
$1.37/serving | |||
|
Equate©; |
25% |
50% |
$ .88/serving | |||
|
Equate©; Plus |
25% |
50% |
$ .96/serving | |||
For very little money adults can enjoy a balanced meal with each nutritional drink - now in re-closeable bottles. For as little as $2.74 patients can receive 80% of their vitamin K and 200% of their vitamin C for the day with only two 8 oz of Boost drinks. What needs to be stressed is the high quantities of two important vitamins [vitamin K, vitamin C] that have been proven to decrease patient INR's. This doesn't mean these vitamins should be avoided - only communicated to healthcare teams to create the proper balance of warfarin (Coumadin ®) and liquid supplement.
Communication remains the most important step before substituting, adding or stopping nutritional drinks to diets. While they are an effective way to add calories, maintain body weight and keep energy levels high – they can also affect the stability of patient INR's.