Oral nutritional supplement for children with cancer: 7 different high-energy drinks compared to cacao, a double-blinded feeding trial

Background: In order to increase energy intake in children with cancer under chemotherapy who cannot meet the required energy intake many different high-energy commercially available drinks are offered. However children often don't like them and refuse them. This prospective study aimed to examine the taste preference of in Germany commercially available oral nutritional supplements. Methods: In this double-blinded trial, 26 children and adolescents with a median age of 14 years (range 6 – 20 years) were asked during chemotherapy to try 7 different commercially available high-energy drinks and hypo-caloric cacao…