Impact of oral nutritional support adherence on muscle strength, body composition, and general health status in gastrointestinal cancer patients: ONMUS study.

ONS adherence rates declined significantly over the study period from 93.4% to 78.4%.

• Adherence was defined as consuming ≥75% of prescribed oral nutritional supplements.
• Adherence rate dropped from 93.4% at the first visit to 78.4% by the final visit (P < 0.001).
• Main reasons for non-adherence were appetite loss (5.2%), nausea (4.9%), and GI intolerance (2.8%).
• The study included 426 malnourished GIS cancer patients across eight centers in Turkey.

Severe malnutrition decreased substantially more in the ONS-adherent group compared to the non-adherent group.

• SGA-based severe malnutrition decreased by 39.8% in the adherent group (AG).
• In the non-adherent group (NAG), severe malnutrition decreased by only 8.4%.
• Malnutrition was assessed using the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) tool.
• The cohort had a mean age of 61.1 ± 11.2 years, ranging from 19 to 90 years, and was 36.4% female and 63.6% male.

Body weight and BMI were maintained in the adherent group but declined significantly in the non-adherent group.

• BMI declined in the non-adherent group (P = 0.04).
• Weight and BMI were maintained in the ONS-adherent group.
• Cancer types in the cohort were gastric (35.7%), colon (33.9%), and rectal (30.4%).
• The study monitored outcomes over three visits in a prospective, multicenter design.

Mid-upper arm and calf circumferences declined significantly in the non-adherent group but not in the adherent group.

• Mid-upper arm circumference and calf circumference declined significantly in the NAG (P ≤ 0.05).
• These anthropometric measures were used as proxies for muscle mass and body composition.
• No significant decline in these measures was reported in the adherent group.
• Anthropometry was recorded and monitored across three study visits.

Handgrip strength increased only in the ONS-adherent group and did not improve in non-adherent patients.

• Handgrip strength increased by 2 kg in the adherent group (P = 0.003).
• No significant improvement in handgrip strength was observed in the non-adherent group.
• Handgrip strength was used as a measure of functional muscle strength.
• Functional performance and quality of life were also monitored alongside handgrip strength across three visits.

The study population consisted entirely of malnourished gastrointestinal cancer patients recruited consecutively across eight Turkish centers.

• A total of 426 malnourished patients were enrolled in the prospective, multicenter ONMUS study.
• Eligible patients were consecutively recruited and assessed for malnutrition using the Subjective Global Assessment.
• Cancer types included gastric (35.7%), colon (33.9%), and rectal (30.4%) cancers.
• Mean age was 61.1 ± 11.2 years (range: 19–90 years); 36.4% were female and 63.6% were male.