Five studies were reviewed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness, cost benefit, and/or economic savings of inpatient Medical Nutrition Therapy services provided by a Registered Dietitian, involving individualized nutrition assessment and a duration and frequency of care using the Nutrition Care Process.  Three studies report that nutrition screening, early assessment and treatment by a Registered Dietitian, leading to early discharge results in cost savings due to reduced length of hospital stay.  Two studies demonstrate that appropriate parenteral nutrition use, based on recommendations from a Nutrition Support Team including a Registered Dietitian, results in cost savings.   Further research is needed on the cost-effectiveness, cost benefit and/or economic savings of inpatient Medical Nutrition Therapy.

• Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
• Grade II is Fair;
• Grade III is Limited/Weak;
• Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
• Grade V is Not Assignable.
• High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
• Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
• Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
• Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
• Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.

Compared with pharmacotherapy or no intervention, lifestyle interventions for diabetes prevention were cost-effective in terms of cost per quality-adjusted life years gained, based on six cost-effectiveness analyses.

• Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
• Grade II is Fair;
• Grade III is Limited/Weak;
• Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
• Grade V is Not Assignable.
• High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
• Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
• Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
• Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
• Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.

Ten studies were reviewed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness, cost benefit and economic savings of outpatient Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT), involving in-depth individualized nutrition assessment and a duration and frequency of care using the Nutrition Care Process to manage disease. Using a variety of cost-effectiveness analyses, the studies affirm that MNT resulted in improved clinical outcomes and reduced costs related to physician time, medication use and/or hospital admissions for people with obesity, diabetes and disorders of lipid metabolism, as well as other chronic diseases. Further research is needed on the cost-effectiveness, cost benefit and economic savings of outpatient MNT in other disease states.  

• Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
• Grade II is Fair;
• Grade III is Limited/Weak;
• Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
• Grade V is Not Assignable.
• High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
• Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
• Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
• Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
• Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.