Different quantities of two commercial liquid diets consumed by weight-losing cancer patients.

Twenty ambulatory, weight-losing patients with advanced cancer of the lung, breast, or ovary were randomized to supplement their diet for 2 months with either of two commercial complete liquid diets, one containing intact milk proteins and the other partially hydrolyzed soy proteins. Both products were prescribed as sip feeds in addition to normal food. The patients consumed more of the hydrolysate-containing product than of that with intact (milk) protein. The difference was significant and was maintained during both months of the study. An increase in total energy and protein was obtained in both groups, but was significant only with the hydrolysate product. At the end of the study there was no group difference in measures of nutritional status, but weight loss was halted in both groups.