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FAQs

EMPRANA NUTRITION FAQs

Here to Help: Common Questions & Clear Answers

Whether you are looking for simple guidance on daily usage, curious about our science and protein quality, or navigating specialized nutrition for a loved one, we have gathered clear, evidence-based answers to help you feel confident in your care choices.

1. Why can someone lose weight without intending to?

Unintentional weight loss can occur when food intake falls below the body’s needs, when nutritional requirements or energy expenditure increase due to disease, physiological needs, or other factors, or when absorption or use of nutrients is affected. The reason matters, so persistent or unexplained weight loss should be assessed.

A low BMI can be a sign of malnutrition/undernutrition, particularly when accompanied by unintentional weight loss, reduced intake, or other signs of nutritional vulnerability. It should be interpreted with other information rather than used alone. 

Total body weight does not show how much of the body is muscle, fat, or fluid. Low muscle quantity or quality can therefore occur without a markedly low body weight.

Muscle supports strength, mobility, and everyday physical function. Low muscle mass, especially when accompanied by reduced muscle strength or performance, is an important clinical concern. 

Discuss it with a doctor or dietitian, particularly if the loss is ongoing, substantial, or accompanied by poor appetite, weakness, or reduced food intake. Assessment can identify possible causes and whether nutritional support is needed.

A clinician or dietitian can review your usual food and drink intake alongside your weight trend, appetite, medical history, and activity. A food diary or dietary recall can help quantify intake.

Yes. Protein provides amino acids needed for muscle protein turnover. High-quality protein rich in branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) provides essential amino acids including leucine, which plays an important role in stimulating muscle protein synthesis. Adequate protein is particularly important when maintaining or rebuilding muscle is a goal, but individual needs vary. 

Protein requirements vary with age, health status, activity, and disease or nutritional condition. Expert recommendations suggest at least 1.0–1.2 g/kg/day for healthy older adults, increasing to around 1.2–1.5 g/kg/day for older adults who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. Your healthcare provider/dietitian can calculate your daily need based on your current intake and clinical condition and advise on how to meet it through regular foods and, when appropriate, nutritional supplements.

Along with protein, adequate energy is also important. When energy intake is insufficient, some protein () may be used as fuel. Appropriate physical activity or resistance exercise, when safe, also contributes to maintaining muscle function.

If weight is falling, the energy supplied by food may not be meeting the body’s needs. Energy requirements may also increase because of disease, physiological needs, or increased energy expenditure. Increasing energy intake may therefore be part of nutritional management, depending on the cause of weight loss and the person’s overall clinical situation. [3,5,7]

Energy-dense nutrition provides a relatively large amount of energy in a small amount of food. It can be useful when appetite or the ability to consume larger portions is limited. 

Energy-Dense High-Protein (EDHP) nutrition combines meaningful energy delivery with a substantial amount of high-quality protein in a compact serving. The purpose is to address both energy and protein needs rather than focusing on protein alone. [7,8]

A protein powder primarily provides protein, whereas an Energy-Dense High-Protein (EDHP) supplement such as Compact Emprana provides both concentrated energy and high-quality protein in a defined, compact serving. This makes it useful when both energy and protein gaps need to be addressed. [5,7,10,18]

Talk to your healthcare provider. Nutritional support can increase energy and nutrient intake when usual dietary intake does not meet nutritional requirements. Oral nutritional interventions have been shown to improve nutritional outcomes, including nutritional intake and body weight, in nutritionally vulnerable adults. [3,7,18]

Adequate energy and high-quality protein are important components of a strategy to support muscle maintenance. Protein sources rich in branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), such as whey protein, provide leucine and other amino acids involved in muscle protein synthesis. Appropriate resistance exercise, when safe, is also important. Talk to your healthcare provider for a safe exercise plan. [6,8,19]

Whey is a high-quality, rapidly digested protein that provides all nine essential amino acids, including BCAAs such as leucine, isoleucine, and valine. Compact Emprana uses whey protein as part of its protein blend and provides 18.11 g protein per 50 g sachet. [10,12,13]

Smaller, nutrient-dense meals and snacks can make it easier to increase intake without requiring large portions. Food choice, tolerance and the underlying reason for reduced intake should also be considered. A dietitian can help identify practical options and determine whether a specialised nutritional supplement is appropriate. [5,7,11]

Nutritional supplements are generally used to complement the regular diet and help meet nutritional requirements when food intake alone is insufficient. Compact Emprana is intended to be taken between meals as part of an individualised nutritional plan. [5,7,10,18]

Compact Emprana should be taken between meals as part of the patient’s individualised nutritional plan. Recommended use is = 100 g, taken between meals, such as mid-morning, mid-afternoon, or evening. [10]

Possible signals include low BMI, unintentional weight loss, reduced muscle mass, poor appetite, reduced food intake, and declining strength and function. Your dietitian/healthcare provider can assess whether support is needed using appropriate nutritional screening and assessment. [1,5,6]

Assessment may include BMI, percentage and time course of unintentional weight loss, food intake, and relevant clinical factors. Where appropriate, muscle mass and function can also be assessed. Validated screening tools may be used. [1,5,6]

They are related but distinct findings. When they occur together, the combination may indicate greater nutritional vulnerability and warrants a structured assessment of causes, dietary intake, and nutritional needs. [1,2]

Needs can change with age, illness or disease conditions, activity, appetite, weight trajectory, and recovery. Nutritional plans should therefore be reviewed and adjusted when circumstances change. [3,7,18]

Talk to your healthcare provider. Compact Emprana is an Energy-Dense High-Protein (EDHP) nutritional supplement that combines energy density and high-quality protein in a compact format to help address nutritional gaps. Whether it is appropriate depends on the individual’s nutritional assessment, requirements, and overall nutritional plan.

Do not focus on weight alone. Look at the pattern of weight change, BMI, food intake, muscle mass, strength, and function, and seek professional assessment when concerns persist. Early identification of nutritional risk can help guide an appropriate plan. [1,5,6]

REFERENCES

  1. Cederholm T, Jensen GL, Correia MITD, et al. GLIM criteria for the diagnosis of malnutrition – a consensus report from the global clinical nutrition community. Clin Nutr. 2019;38(1):1–9. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2018.08.002.
  2. Jensen GL, Cederholm T, Correia MITD, et al. GLIM Criteria for the Diagnosis of Malnutrition: A Consensus Report From the Global Clinical Nutrition Community. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2019;43(1):32–40. doi:10.1002/jpen.1440.
  3. Volkert D, Beck AM, Cederholm T, et al. ESPEN practical guideline: Clinical nutrition and hydration in geriatrics. Clin Nutr. 2022;41(4):958–989. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2022.01.024.
  4. Volkert D, Beck AM, Cederholm T, et al. The European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) Guideline on Clinical Nutrition and Hydration in Geriatrics. Rev Esp Geriatr Gerontol. 2026;61(2):101762. doi:10.1016/j.regg.2026.101762.
  5. Nutrition support for adults: oral nutrition support, enteral tube feeding and parenteral nutrition. Clinical guideline CG32. Updated 2017; current recommendations accessed 2026.
  6. Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Bahat G, Bauer J, et al. Sarcopenia: revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis. Age Ageing. 2019;48(1):16–31. doi:10.1093/ageing/afy169.
  7. Wunderle C, Gomes F, Schuetz P, et al. ESPEN guideline on nutritional support for polymorbid medical inpatients. Clin Nutr. 2023;42(9):1545–1568. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2023.06.023.
  8. Bauer J, Biolo G, Cederholm T, et al. Evidence-based recommendations for optimal dietary protein intake in older people: a position paper from the PROT-AGE Study Group. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2013;14(8):542–559. doi:10.1016/j.jamda.2013.05.021.
  9. Deutz NEP, Bauer JM, Barazzoni R, et al. Protein intake and exercise for optimal muscle function with aging: recommendations from the ESPEN Expert Group. Clin Nutr. 2014;33(6):929–936. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2014.04.007.
  10. Current Emprana nutritional declaration and product dossier. Product-specific values: 285.5 kcal and 18.11 g protein per 50 g sachet. Verify against the current approved specification before final release.
  11. Thibault R, Abbasoglu O, Ioannou E, et al. ESPEN guideline on hospital nutrition. Clin Nutr. 2021;40(12):5684–5709. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2021.09.039.
  12. Devries MC, Phillips SM. Supplemental protein in support of muscle mass and health: advantage whey. J Food Sci. 2015;80(S1):A8–A15. doi:10.1111/1750-3841.12802.
  13. Boirie Y, Dangin M, Gachon P, et al. Slow and fast dietary proteins differently modulate postprandial protein accretion. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1997;94(26):14930–14935. doi:10.1073/pnas.94.26.14930.
  14. Dietary protein quality evaluation in human nutrition: report of an FAO Expert Consultation. FAO Food and Nutrition Paper 92. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; 2013.
  15. Mathai JK, Liu Y, Stein HH. Values for digestible indispensable amino acid scores (DIAAS) for some dairy and plant proteins may better describe protein quality than values calculated using PDCAAS. Br J Nutr. 2017;117(4):490–499. doi:10.1017/S0007114517000125.
  16. Rutherfurd SM, Fanning AC, Miller BJ, Moughan PJ. Protein digestibility-corrected amino acid scores and digestible indispensable amino acid scores differentially describe protein quality. J Nutr. 2015;145(2):372–379. doi:10.3945/jn.114.195438.
  17. Current Emprana product data on file. Product-specific PDCAAS/DIAAS values should be used only as supported by the approved specification or assay.
  18. Nutrition support for adults: oral nutrition support, enteral tube feeding and parenteral nutrition. Recommendations on nutrition support and oral nutritional interventions. Clinical guideline CG32.
  19. Tieland M, Dirks ML, van der Zwaluw N, et al. Protein supplementation increases muscle mass gain during prolonged resistance-type exercise training in frail elderly people: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2012;13(8):713–719. doi:10.1016/j.jamda.2012.05.020.
  20. Collins et al. Nutritional support in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): an evidence update. J Thorac Dis. 2019;11(Suppl 17):S2230-S2237.
  21. Schols AM, Ferreira IM, Franssen FM, et al. Nutritional assessment and therapy in COPD: a European Respiratory Society statement. Eur Respir J. 2014;44(6):1504-1520.
  22. Clini EM, Ambrosino N. Nonpharmacological treatment and relief of symptoms in COPD. Eur Respir J. 2008;32(1):218-228. doi:10.1183/09031936.00134007
  23. Jensen GL, Cederholm T, Correia MITD, et al. GLIM consensus approach to diagnosis of malnutrition: A 5-year update. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2025;49(4):414–427. doi:10.1002/jpen.2756. The 2025 update states that no revisions were made to the weight-loss, low-BMI or reduced food-intake/assimilation criteria.
  24. Jensen GL, Cederholm T, Ballesteros-Pomar MD, et al. Guidance for assessment of the inflammation etiologic criterion for the GLIM diagnosis of malnutrition: A modified Delphi approach. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2024;48(2):145–154. doi:10.1002/jpen.2590. This guidance supports using clinical judgement and underlying disease/condition to establish the inflammation criterion, with CRP as supportive evidence when uncertainty exists.