# Malnutrition (Adult, Primary Care)

- Category: chronic
- Review status: reviewed (every claim checked against a document named on this page)
- Sources: NICE CG32 Nutrition support for adults: oral nutrition support, enteral tube feeding and parenteral nutrition, 2006 (NCBI Bookshelf)
- Verified date: 2026-08

## Verified against

- NICE CG32 Nutrition support for adults: oral nutrition support, enteral tube feeding and parenteral nutrition, 2006 (NCBI Bookshelf)

## Treatment metadata

- No drug therapy in primary care (Dietary Advice & Referral)

## Complete treatment card

```text
MALNUTRITION (ADULT, PRIMARY CARE)
Sources: NICE CG32 Nutrition support for adults: oral nutrition support, enteral tube feeding and
         parenteral nutrition, 2006 (NCBI Bookshelf)
Review status: REVIEWED against the source listed above  (2026-08)

1. NO DRUG THERAPY IN PRIMARY CARE (DIETARY ADVICE & REFERRAL)[1st line]
   Adult    Screen for malnutrition at registration and offer oral nutrition support to anyone who
            is malnourished or at risk. Look for and treat the cause of the weight loss alongside
            feeding them - Ongoing support
   Peds     Refer to specialist pediatric nutrition
   Source   NICE CG32 Nutrition support for adults: oral nutrition support, enteral tube feeding and
            parenteral nutrition, 2006 (NCBI Bookshelf)
   Why      Medical nutrition therapy and underlying cause investigation take precedence over
            unguided supplementation.
   Caution  Screen for refeeding syndrome risk before initiating rapid nutritional support in
            severely malnourished patients.
            Investigate red flag symptoms of unintentional weight loss (malignancy, chronic
            infection, malabsorption).
            CG32 mentions dietitians only as part of a hospital nutrition team or a community tube-
            feeding or parenteral team - it makes no recommendation to refer a malnourished primary-
            care adult to one for oral support. Refer if you judge it useful, but the guideline does
            not require it.

Prices are indicative (dataset snapshot 2026-06); verify with the pharmacy.
```

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Dawaa Reference is a reference for prescribers, not a medical device, and does not replace clinical judgement.

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