Ensure, an Abbot brand in the retail liquid nutrition market, used to offer regular, high-protein, high-calorie, high-calcium and high-fiber varieties, each in a choice of flavors. Recently, the Ensure line of products was reorganized by intent-to-treat rather than composition. Competition comes from BOOST, by Nestle Nutrition, and store-label brands.
Anyone with progressive weight loss of known or unknown causes, osteopenia or osteoporosis, suppressed immune function or the progressive muscle loss of sarcopenia should consult with a physician as to the recommended course of action.
Ensure Nutrition Shake
This basic liquid nutrition product, in an 8-oz., plastic, screw-top bottle, provides 250 calories, 9 g of protein equivalent to 18 percent of the daily protein needs, plus 24 essential vitamins and minerals. The product contains milk and soy ingredients but is suitable for people with lactose intolerance. It is available in six flavors.
Ensure Plus
The Plus version increases calories per bottle to 350 by adding more fat, carbohydrates and protein. The protein content of 13 g provides 26 percent of the daily value. Ensure products do not contain any trans fat.
Ensure Bone Health
Compared with the basic product, Ensure Bone Health has slightly fewer calories, at 220 per serving, but increased calcium, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, manganese and molybdenum. All of these nutrients have been written about in the scientific literature as helping maintain bone health, but Abbot has not conducted a clinical trial of its product to confirm that it helps maintain bone health.
Ensure Immune Health
Compared with the basic product, Ensure Immune Health has 2 g of prebiotic fiber, specifically, short-chain fructooligosaccharides. In theory, prebiotic fiber reaches the large intestine unabsorbed, where it serves as a fuel for beneficial bacteria. The bacteria are thought to promote digestive health. The antioxidant nutrients vitamin C, vitamin E and selenium are thought to promote immune health. Abbott has not conducted a clinical trial of its product to confirm that it helps support the immune system or digestive health.
Ensure Muscle Health
Ensure Muscle Health has an amino acid metabolite beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate, abbreviated HMB. It also has 13 g of protein per 250-calorie bottle. According to Gabriel Wilson's review in the January 2008 issue of "Nutrition & Metabolism," there is clinical trial evidence that HMB at 3 g per day helps rebuild muscle in elderly people. The amount of HMB per bottle is not stated, but Abbott recommends two bottles a day. Abbott has not conducted a clinical trial of its product to confirm that it helps support maintaining muscle mass. (See Ref #4)
Ensure Clinical Strength
This product combines the attributes of Plus, Immune Health and Muscle Health, in that it has the protein and calorie content of Plus, and the fiber and HMB ingredients of the other two products.
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