Nutrition to Support Postoperative Recovery

Last updated: February 10, 2026
Sponsor: Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

N/A

Condition

Brain Function

Treatment

Nutritional Instructions Only

Nutritional Shake

Clinical Study ID

NCT07109505
STUDY02002743
  • Ages > 70
  • All Genders
  • Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Summary

Older surgical patients commonly have malnutrition, and there is evidence these patients have increased risk for poor physical and brain recovery after surgery and anesthesia. There are scientific-based recommendations to provide nutritional supplements to support recovery. However, to date these recommendations do not address a broad group of nutrients likely to reverse common deficiencies. Team members have created a palatable, broad-spectrum and stable nutritional shake that we will give to patients after surgery. We propose to test the nutritional shake in frail older surgical patients at Dartmouth Health to determine if a nutrition shake provided after surgery improves recovery of physical function and cognitive abilities. Half the patients will receive the shake and the other will receive the standard of care postoperative nutritional instructions after surgery. We will collect information regarding physical function and cognitive abilities of all the patients while in the hospital and 90 days after surgery. We will use this data to apply for funding for a powered randomized trial to determine the role of nutrition in optimizing physical and cognitive recovery from surgery in older patients.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • patients >=70 years old having major orthopedic or abdominal surgery, defined as aprocedure with a planned inpatient stay of at least one night.

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • emergency surgery, diagnosis of dementia or major psychiatric diagnosis such asschizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, inability to consent for themselves, unwillingor unable to complete all study requirements and measurements, any known foodallergy, dislike of shake flavor(s), unwilling or unable to tolerate caffeine inshake, unable to take oral nutrition, BMI >45, diagnosis of an eating disorder,insulin dependent diabetes.

  • MRI procedure eligibility will be assessed using the DHMC Department of Radiology'sstandard MRI Safety Checklist, which screens for potential contraindications to MRIscanning such as metal in the body, possible exposure to metal in the eyes,pregnancy, and claustrophobia. Any individual with a contraindication to MRIscanning will not be eligible to participate in the optional MRI component.

Study Design

Total Participants: 100
Treatment Group(s): 2
Primary Treatment: Nutritional Instructions Only
Phase:
Study Start date:
December 10, 2025
Estimated Completion Date:
September 30, 2026

Study Description

We will recruit a cohort of community dwelling patients, age 70 years and older for elective major abdominal and orthopedic surgery. Demographics, medical history, medications will be obtained from the electronic health record and confirmed with the patient. Patients randomized to the nutrition shake arm will receive a provided daily nutritional shake (starting when they leave the hospital and for 1-month after hospital discharge). The shake consists of a comprehensive panel of essential nutrients to support maintenance of muscle, metabolic and brain health.

Connect with a study center

  • Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

    Lebanon 5088597, New Hampshire 5090174 03756
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

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