Study of Nutritional Shake for Supporting Recovery After Major Abdominal or Orthopedic Surgery in Adults 70 and Older

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying older adults aged 70 years and above who are undergoing major orthopedic or abdominal surgery. The study evaluates whether giving a specially designed nutritional shake after surgery can help improve physical function and cognitive abilities during recovery. This trial aims to gather data on the role of nutrition in recovery for frail older surgical patients, with the goal of informing future larger studies on optimizing recovery through nutritional support. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive standard nutritional instructions after surgery, while the other group will receive the same instructions plus a daily nutritional shake for 30 days following hospital discharge. The shake contains a balanced mix of essential nutrients, including protein, cocoa flavanols, omega-3 fatty acids, choline, polyphenols, and multivitamins to support muscle, metabolic, and brain health. During the study, participants demographics, medical history, and medication use will be collected. Researchers will assess physical function and cognitive abilities while participants are in the hospital and again 90 days after surgery. Participants in the shake group will track their daily shake intake through logs submitted online, which the study team will review for adherence and any side effects. The main outcomes measured are changes in disability and cognitive function 90 days after surgery, with ongoing monitoring throughout the study period.

Nutrition to Support Postoperative Recovery