To determine the impact of taste pleasure supplements on modifications of food intake in hospitalized frail elderly patients.

Thirty hospitalized frail elderly patients tasted different formulas of a high-protein coffee supplement: -supplement C, commercial version; - supplement CA with artificial coffee flavor; - supplement CS with sucrose and - supplement CAS with sucrose and artificial coffee flavor. The preference for the supplements was analyzed by the Friedman test followed by a post hoc Tukey's test. The food intakes in each period were compared by repeated ANOVA and the food intakes of the two periods were compared using Student's t test. All measurements were made during periods of infection and convalescence.

The supplements CAS and CS were significantly more appreciated than the current commercial version C (P <.05). The patients could be classified into two groups: consumers (consuming the supplements) and nonconsumers (just tasting the supplements). Taking supplements can increase the total energy intake for consumers (P <.01), especially during periods of infection; no modification was observed in the non-consumers.

The use of supplements to increase sensory pleasure can be one feasible way to increase energy intake in hospitalized elderly patients with an infectious disease.