High-protein oral nutritional supplement use in patients with cancer reduces complications and length of hospital stay: A systematic review and meta-analysis

High-Protein Oral Nutritional Supplements in Cancer Care: Key Evidence at a Glance

Cancer-related malnutrition is common and can negatively impact treatment tolerance, recovery, and survival. This infographic summarises the key findings from a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating high-protein oral nutritional supplements (HPONS; providing ≥20% of total energy from protein) in adults with cancer, where protein needs are often elevated and difficult to meet through diet alone. 

Why This Infographic Matters for Healthcare Professionals

By reviewing this infographic, you will:

• Understand the clinical impact of HPONS on complications, with evidence showing fewer infectious, non-infectious post-operative, and treatment-related complications versus control. 
• See the evidence on hospital outcomes, including a reduction in length of hospital stay on average, supporting the potential role of targeted nutrition in improving care efficiency.
• Recognise where evidence is mixed, with no observed differences reported for hospital readmissions and mortality in the included trials—helping set realistic expectations for practice. 

Access the Full Publication and Explore the Evidence

This infographic includes a QR code linking to the full paper (Delsoglio et al., 2025) so you can explore the detailed methods, full dataset, and clinical context behind these findings