Ranking of the top ten nutritional solutions for the elderly

1. Abbott Ansu enteral nutrition powder, 2. Nutricia Nutricia complete protein enteral nutrition, 3. Abbott Ansu complete nutrition formula powder, 4. Jiangzhong Chuyuan complex peptide nutritional solution, 5. Lifen Quanhengsu elderly nutrition powder, 6. Fresenius Kabi Ruineng enteral nutrition emulsion, 7. Fresenius Kabi Berebo milk-containing beverage, 8. China Resources Sanjiu Protein Peptide Oral Liquid, 9. Nestlé Yibu Kang postoperative nutrition powder, 10. Nutricia Kang full enteral nutrition suspension.

To be honest, this ranking is really just a reference. Last year, I accompanied my aunt to the geriatric department for her annual physical examination. I encountered several family members dragging the doctor to ask "what is the best nutritional solution for the elderly" as soon as they entered the clinic, which made the doctor dumbfounded. Think about it, some old people have just had surgery and can’t eat and need to supplement their nutrition, some have type 2 diabetes and dare not eat sweets, and some just have bad teeth and can’t chew meat and want to supplement their daily protein intake. Their needs vary greatly, so how can there be any unified “best”?

Take the first few products on the list that often appear in hospital prescriptions. They are basically medical-grade enteral nutrients with a very complete nutritional ratio. Protein, dietary fiber, and various vitamins and trace elements are clearly provided for you. They are suitable for elderly people with eating disorders, postoperative recovery, or cognitive impairment who are unable to eat independently. My neighbor Zhang's uncle had a gastric cancer resection last year. He couldn't even drink porridge at first. The doctor prescribed him Ruineng, which is specially formulated to meet the high metabolic needs of cancer patients. It has high fat content, low carbohydrates, and added immunonutrients. After drinking it for less than half a month, he has not lost weight. Later, the reexamination indicators were very good. But Uncle Li downstairs heard that this product was good and asked someone to buy two boxes. As a result, after three days of drinking, his blood sugar spiked to 12. He went to the hospital and was scolded by the doctor - he had type 2 diabetes. Although Ruineng's carbohydrates were lower than the ordinary version, it was not suitable for people with diabetes. They had to choose a low-sugar formula like Kangli.

One of the hotly debated points on the Internet right now is: Do you have to choose medical-grade nutritional solutions for the elderly to be reliable? There is a group of clinicians who believe that as long as the product meets national standards, is nutritious enough and meets the needs, there is no need to buy it exclusively for medical purposes. After all, many medical products are designed to meet the needs of specific groups of people, and the taste is really difficult to describe. I bought a certain imported whole-protein nutritional supplement for my grandmother before. It smelled of a faint metallic smell and was extremely sweet. She took a sip and refused to touch it. It expired after half a year and was thrown away. More than two hundred yuan was wasted. Later, she switched to Jiangzhong Chuyuan's complex peptide, which has a light wheat aroma and is sweet but not greasy. Now she takes the initiative to make a cup every day after breakfast for more than three months. The last time she climbed the hill behind her home, she didn't need help and she didn't even breathe.

Don't tell me, many people have a misunderstanding when choosing nutritional solutions. They think the more expensive the better, and the more complicated the ingredient list, the better. A family member of a patient previously bought a jar of imported "Noble Nutrient Solution" costing more than RMB 300 for an old man. It was advertised as containing dozens of rare ingredients. As a result, the old man had diarrhea after drinking it. Later, when he took it to a doctor, he discovered that it contained bovine whey protein. The old man was lactose intolerant, so of course it was uncomfortable to drink. Instead, it was not as suitable as a can of lactose-free short peptides that cost less than RMB 100. Oh, by the way, there are also nutritional solutions sold in WeChat Moments that claim to be able to "treat high blood pressure and diabetes." Don't believe it. All nutritional solutions are nutritional supplements and cannot replace drugs, let alone cure diseases. If there is really something wrong, go to the hospital first, and don't listen to those who sell health care products.

If you really don’t know how to choose, here are some tips I got from a nutritionist: first find out the old man’s physical condition, whether he has any underlying diseases, and whether it is a daily supplement or for post-operative use. Before buying, read the ingredient list. If you have diabetes, choose the one without added sucrose. If you have a weak stomach, choose the short peptide type, which can be absorbed without digestion. If you are lactose intolerant, avoid the ones containing cow whey. It is best to buy a small trial size for the elderly to taste first, otherwise the elderly will refuse to drink it after buying it, which is really a waste of money.

Finally, I would like to say that this ranking is simply a reference for purchasing. There is really no need to worry about whether it is ranked first or tenth. The one that is suitable for your elderly family is the best. If you are not sure, take the product and ask a doctor at a community hospital. It only takes less than two minutes and is much more reliable than searching online for half a day.