Nutrition Shakes: Medical Aid for the Sick, but Are They Right for Healthy People?

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Built for the Hospital Bed

Ensure was introduced in 1973 by the Ross division of Abbott Laboratories as a nutrition drink for people who struggle to get enough calories. Doctors and hospitals used it to feed patients who were too weak or too ill to eat normal meals.

Over the decades, rivals and store brands joined the market. Product lines grew from simple patient drinks into dozens of variants, including high-protein, low-sugar and weight-gain formulas. The bottles often look alike, but their contents can differ a lot.

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Where the Evidence Is Strong: Malnourished Patients

The best research on these drinks involves people who are genuinely undernourished, mostly older adults in hospital. A large Cochrane review of 62 trials with more than 10,000 participants found no clear survival benefit overall. But among people who were undernourished at the start, supplements were linked to a lower risk of death. Most of the trials were of limited quality.

A newer Cochrane analysis, published in March 2026, looked at hospitalized older adults at risk of malnutrition. Its authors concluded that oral nutritional supplements may lower the risk of death and serious complications 30 days after treatment begins.

The picture is not completely one-sided. A Swedish trial of malnourished older adults after hospital discharge found that supplements, with or without dietary advice, did not improve survival over six months.

The takeaway: for patients who cannot eat enough, extra nutrition can help. But the benefit depends on who is treated and in what setting.

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Healthy Adults: Little Proof of Benefit

Many ads now target active, healthy adults who want to "keep their strength." Here the science is far less convincing.

A 2020 meta-analysis (a study that pools the results of many studies) covered 16 trials with 657 healthy people over 60. It found that adding protein supplements to strength training gave no extra gain in muscle strength or physical performance. The training itself did the work.

Not every study agrees. A 2025 analysis in Frontiers in Nutrition found a modest strength gain when protein was added to resistance training. Still, those results concern protein and exercise together. They do not show that a branded, ready-made shake is better than ordinary food.

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What Is Actually in the Bottle?

Not every shake is the same. Some original formulas contain sugar in amounts similar to a sweetened soft drink, along with refined starches that the body also turns into sugar. Others are lower in sugar and higher in protein.

Whole foods such as yogurt, eggs, nuts, beans and whole grains deliver protein along with fiber and other nutrients. Many shakes contain added vitamins and minerals, but little or no fiber. For someone with a normal appetite, a shake that replaces a real meal can mean a poorer diet, not a better one.

The best habit is simple: read the label. Check calories, protein, sugar and fiber, and ask whether you actually need what the product is designed to deliver.

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A Marketing Question with a History

The gap between medical purpose and mass marketing is not new. In 1997, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a settlement with Abbott over Ensure advertising. The agency alleged that the company lacked adequate evidence for claims that many doctors recommended Ensure as a meal supplement or replacement for healthy, active adults. It also challenged a claim that one serving offered vitamins comparable to a typical multivitamin. Abbott agreed to settle.

Companies are free to market their products. But the case is a reminder that "nutrition shake" is a marketing label, not proof that a product is right for everyone.

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What This Means for You

If a doctor or dietitian recommends a shake because you or a family member is underweight, recovering from surgery or struggling to eat, it can be a valuable tool. In that case, follow their advice.

If you are healthy, the evidence suggests you can usually get what you need from regular meals. Regular strength exercise is a better-proven way to stay strong with age. If an older relative suddenly eats much less, find out why. Poor teeth, medication side effects, loneliness or low mood are common causes, and treating them may matter more than any drink.

When in doubt, ask a doctor or dietitian rather than relying on advertising.

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