[Prevalence of malnutrition and influence of oral nutritional supplementation on nutritional status in institutionalized elderly].

Background: Nutritional supplementation might be an effective strategy for improving the nutritional status and the quality of life of institutionalized fragile elderly.

Objectives: The prevalence of malnutrition and its relation with disease, and the influence of dietary supplementation by means of oral formulas on the nutritional status of elderly nursing home residents were assessed.

Methods: Two studies were carried out, one a cross-sectional survey in 31 subjects and the other a longitudinal-sectional survey in 19 subjects, both groups living in a public nursing home in the city of Murcia (SE Spain).