Nutritional Supplementation in the Elderly With Weight Loss

Open to people ages 65 years and up

• Male or female age 65 and older
• Non-smokers
• Weight loss >3% body weight over 6-12 months
• BMI ≤ 25
• Living independently or in an assisted living facility

• Medical conditions that would lead to weight loss
• Active cancer undergoing treatment (chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or planned surgical intervention)
• CKD stage IV-V (eGFR <30) based on medical records within the last 12 months
• Presence of dysphagia or odynophagia
• Actively taking blood thinner such as Warfarin
• Known history of cirrhosis with presence of ascites
• History of a surgical procedure for weight loss (e.g. gastroplasty, gastric bypass, gastrectomy or partial gastrectomy, lap-band)
• Any abnormal lab findings outside of normal limits as determined by the investigator
• Dietary conditions
• Diet restrictions including vegetarianism, veganism, soy-free diet,
• Fish and/or fish oil allergy or intolerance
• Milk allergy excluding lactose intolerance
• Follows a kosher diet
• Medications
• Use of appetite stimulants (including megestrol, dronabinol and cyproheptadine).
• Does not include medications used for depression (e.g. mirtazapine, paxil) if patient has been on a stable dose of this medication for at least 3 months prior to the start of this study
• If participant is already taking a fish oil supplement, he/she must be willing to either stop the supplement or take the supplement the investigators are using in the study depending on the randomization assignment
• Additional
• Patient has implantable device such as a pacemaker or ICD
• Unable to complete 6-minute walk test at baseline
• Hospitalization within the last 30 days
• Participation in a therapeutic research study within 30 days of baseline
• Living in a skilled nursing facility or long-term care facility
• Any other medical condition that principal investigator or co-investigators deem would preclude the patient from study participation