Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism

Clinical Nutrition is a discipline that deals with prevention, diagnosis, and management of
diseases/conditions that are caused by deficiency, excess or metabolic imbalance of
nutrients (1, 2).

Clinical Nutrition encompasses a wide range of diseases/conditions. The 5 key areas are:

• Malnutrition/undernutrition
• Sarcopaenia & frailty
• Overweight/obesity
• Micronutrient abnormalities
• Refeeding syndrome

The Clinical Nutrition & Metabolism Unit (CNMU) at Monash Health was established in 1988.
It is a physician-led multidisciplinary unit comprising:

• General medicine physicians
• Gastroenterologists
• Endocrinologists
• Upper gastrointestinal surgeons
• Clinical nutrition nurses
• Clinical nutrition/diabetes fellow

CNMU also works closely with the Monash Health Nutrition and Dietetics Unit and Sterile Pharmacy.
The Monash Health CNMU provides services for adults with complex medical conditions associated with under- and overnutrition. This includes nutrition support, metabolic syndrome, and osteoporosis. The Metabolic Obesity Service is currently an internal service only and is not accepting external referrals.

We also do not manage eating disorders. Please refer privately or to the Wellness and Recovery Centre (WRC) instead. Link: https://monashhealth.org/services/eating-disorders/

• Address referral to the Head of Unit: Dr Sze Mei Yong
• The patient will be seen by a clinician within this specialty
• The referral should indicate that it is valid for an indefinite period.

Secure eReferral by HealthLink is now our preferred method of referral.

Find up-to-date information about how to send a referral to Monash Health Specialist Consulting Clinics on the eReferrals page on our website.

References:
1. Cederholm et al, 2017. ESPEN guidelines on definitions and terminology of clinical nutrition. Clinical
Nutrition 36 (2017) 49-64
2. Olson RE, 1996. On the making of a clinical nutritionist. Annu Rev Nutr. 1996; 16:1-32