What are oral nutritional supplements (ONS)?

Ensure, Boost and similar products are called oral nutrition supplements (ONS). As supplements, these products are designed to help boost nutrient intake, and contribute energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, fiber, vitamins, and mineral intake. ONS products are not designed as total diet replacements and cannot be used as the sole source of nutrition for prolonged periods. Selection of specific ONS is based on a health provider's assessment of a patient’s nutritional status and needs, GI function, clinical factors, food preferences, and home resources.

Patients with cancer need adequate protein to maintain and rebuild lean body mass. A systematic review of multi-nutrient, high-protein oral nutrition supplements found significant improvement in total energy and protein intake and reduced incidence of complications. This is cited in the sources below.

• Grant BL: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Pocket Guide to the Nutrition Care Process and Cancer. Chicago, Ill: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2015.
• Clinical management and supportive care services. In: Association of Community Cancer Centers: Cancer Program Guidelines. Rockville, Md: Association of Community Cancer Centers, 2012, pp 10-25.
• Cawood AL, Elia M, Stratton RJ: Systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of high protein oral nutritional supplements. Ageing Res Rev 11 (2): 278-96, 2012.
• Huhmann MB, August DA: Perioperative nutrition support in cancer patients. Nutr Clin Pract 27 (5): 586-92, 2012.
• Arends J, Bachmann P, Baracos V, et al.: ESPEN guidelines on nutrition in cancer patients. Clin Nutr 36 (1): 11-48, 2017.