The ConsuMEER study: a randomised trial towards the effectiveness ofprotein-rich ready-made meals and protein-rich dairy products in increasingprotein intake of community-dwelling older adults after switching fromself-prepared meals towards ready-made meals

Abstract

The risk of undernutrition in older community-dwelling adults increases when they are no longer able to shop or cook themselves. Home-deliveredproducts could then possibly prevent them from becoming undernourished. This single-blind randomised trial tested the effectiveness of home-deliveredprotein-rich ready-made meals and dairy products in reaching the recommended intake of 1·2 g protein/kg body weight (BW) per d and≥25 g of proteinper meal. Community-dwelling older adults (n98; mean age 80·4(SD6·8) years) switched from self-prepared to home-delivered hot meals and dairy pro-ducts for 28 d. The intervention group received ready-made meals and dairy products high in protein; the control group received products lower in protein.Dietary intake was measured at baseline, after 2 weeks (T1), and after 4 weeks (T2). Multilevel analyses (providing one combined outcome for T1 and T2)and logistic regressions were performed. Average baseline protein intake was 1·09 (SE0·05) g protein/kg BW per d in the intervention group and 0·99(SE0·05) g protein/kg BW per d in the control group. During the trial, protein intake of the intervention group was 1·12 (SE0·05) g protein/kg BWper d compared with 0·87 (SE0·03) g protein/kg BW per d in the control group (between-group differencesP<0·05). More participants of the interventiongroup reached the threshold of≥25 g protein at dinner compared with the control group (intervention T1: 84·8 %, T2: 88·4%v.control T1: 42·9 %, T2:40·5%;P<0·05), but not at breakfast and lunch. Ourfindings suggest that switching from self-prepared meals to ready-made meals carries the risk of adecreasing protein intake, unless extra attention is given to protein-rich choices.