Can Adults Take Pediasure? Benefits, Effectiveness & Alternatives

Pediasure is one of the most recognizable nutritional supplements on store shelves, primarily marketed toward children and teenagers who struggle to meet their daily nutritional requirements. However, many adults facing similar nutritional challenges wonder whether this popular children’s supplement could benefit them as well.

Whether you’re recovering from surgery, managing a chronic illness, experiencing age-related appetite loss, or simply trying to gain weight, understanding whether Pediasure is appropriate for adults is essential before making it part of your nutrition plan.

This comprehensive guide explores everything adults need to know about using Pediasure, including its effectiveness, nutritional profile, potential benefits, drawbacks, and alternative options for meeting your nutritional goals.

Understanding Pediasure: What Is It?

Pediasure is a nutritional supplement brand developed by Abbott Nutrition, specifically formulated for children and adolescents between the ages of 2 and 15 years old. Since its introduction to the U.S. market in 1988, Pediasure has become a trusted name for parents whose children face growth challenges or nutritional deficiencies.

The primary purpose of Pediasure is to bridge nutritional gaps in children who have poor appetites, inadequate food intake, or specific dietary restrictions that prevent them from obtaining essential nutrients through regular meals alone.

Nutritional Composition

A standard 8-ounce serving of Pediasure typically contains:

• Approximately 240 calories
• 7 grams of protein
• 27 essential vitamins and minerals
• Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for brain and eye health
• Various micronutrients including calcium, vitamin D, and iron

All Pediasure products are gluten-free, kosher, and halal certified, making them accessible to families with diverse dietary requirements.

Available Pediasure Varieties

Pediasure comes in several formulations designed for different needs:

• Grow & Gain: The original formula designed to support height growth and weight gain
• Grow & Gain with Fiber: Enhanced with fiber to promote digestive health
• Sidekicks: Contains 40% more protein and 25% fewer calories than Grow & Gain
• Pediasure Pro: Specifically formulated for preteens and teens ages 9-15
• Organic: Made with certified organic ingredients
• Specialty formulas: Designed for tube feeding when oral consumption isn’t possible

These products are available in ready-to-drink bottles and powdered forms that require mixing with water.

Can Adults Take Pediasure Safely?

The short answer is yes—adults can safely consume Pediasure. While the product is specifically formulated and marketed for children, there are no ingredients in Pediasure that are harmful to adults when consumed in appropriate amounts.

However, whether Pediasure is the most appropriate or cost-effective choice for adult nutritional supplementation is a different question that depends on your individual circumstances, nutritional needs, and health goals.

Who Might Consider Pediasure as an Adult?

Adults in the following situations might consider using Pediasure:

• Those recovering from illness, injury, or surgery
• Individuals experiencing unintentional weight loss
• People with difficulty chewing or swallowing solid foods
• Older adults with decreased appetite due to aging
• Individuals undergoing cancer treatment experiencing taste changes
• Those with malnutrition or at risk of malnutrition
• People who prefer the taste of Pediasure over adult nutritional supplements

Effectiveness of Pediasure for Adult Weight Gain

While Pediasure is designed for children, research on oral nutritional supplements suggests that similar products can effectively support weight gain in adults.

How Pediasure Supports Weight Gain

Weight gain occurs when you consume more calories than your body burns through daily activities and basic metabolic functions. Pediasure contributes to weight gain by:

• Increasing total calorie intake: Each serving provides 240 calories that supplement your regular meals
• Providing convenient nutrition: Easy-to-consume liquid form requires no preparation
• Supporting protein intake: Protein helps build and maintain muscle mass during weight gain
• Stimulating appetite: Regular nutritional supplementation may help improve overall appetite
• Reducing satiety: Liquid calories are generally less filling than solid foods, potentially allowing for higher overall intake

Scientific Evidence

Multiple studies examining oral nutritional supplements containing 175-500 calories per serving have demonstrated modest weight gain in adult participants. Research involving over 10,000 adults showed that consistent use of nutritional supplements resulted in measurable weight increases, particularly in individuals who were malnourished or at nutritional risk.

While these studies didn’t specifically test Pediasure, the nutritional profile of Pediasure falls within the ranges studied, suggesting similar potential benefits for adults.

Practical Weight Gain Results

If you consume three servings of Pediasure Grow & Gain daily alongside your regular meals, you would add:

• 720 additional calories per day
• 21 grams of protein per day
• A full day’s worth of many essential vitamins and minerals

This caloric addition could theoretically result in approximately 1-1.5 pounds of weight gain per week, though individual results vary based on metabolism, activity level, and overall dietary intake.

Can Pediasure Increase Height in Adults?

Unfortunately, Pediasure cannot increase height in adults. Height growth is determined by the status of your growth plates—areas of developing cartilage tissue near the ends of long bones.

These growth plates typically close at the end of puberty, which occurs around age 16 for women and between ages 15-19 for men. Once your growth plates have closed, no amount of nutritional supplementation can stimulate additional height growth.

Preventing Height Loss

While Pediasure won’t make adults taller, proper nutrition throughout adulthood can help prevent age-related height loss. Adults can lose height due to:

• Osteoporosis and bone density loss
• Compression of spinal discs
• Poor posture related to muscle weakness
• Nutritional deficiencies affecting bone health

Adequate intake of calcium, vitamin D, protein, and other nutrients found in Pediasure may support bone health and help minimize height loss as you age.

Benefits of Pediasure for Adults

Beyond weight gain potential, Pediasure offers several advantages that might make it appealing to adults seeking nutritional supplementation.

Superior Taste and Flavor Variety

One of the most significant barriers to consistent use of nutritional supplements is poor taste. Many adults discontinue nutritional drinks because they find them unpalatable or experience flavor fatigue.

Pediasure is specifically formulated to appeal to children’s taste preferences, resulting in sweeter, more enjoyable flavors including:

• Vanilla
• Chocolate
• Strawberry
• Banana
• Berry
• S’mores

Adults who struggle with the taste of typical adult nutritional supplements may find Pediasure’s flavors more appealing, leading to better adherence and consistency.

Convenient and Easy to Consume

Pediasure’s liquid format makes it exceptionally convenient for adults who:

• Have difficulty chewing due to dental problems or jaw disorders
• Experience swallowing difficulties (dysphagia)
• Feel too fatigued to prepare meals
• Need quick nutrition between meals or activities
• Want portable nutrition that doesn’t require refrigeration before opening

Ready-to-drink bottles can be consumed immediately without any preparation, making them ideal for busy schedules or situations where meal preparation is challenging.

Comprehensive Nutritional Profile

Each serving of Pediasure provides a balanced array of macronutrients and micronutrients, including:

• Complete proteins: All essential amino acids for tissue repair and maintenance
• Healthy fats: Including DHA for brain and cardiovascular health
• Carbohydrates: For energy production
• Vitamins: Including A, C, D, E, and B-complex vitamins
• Minerals: Such as calcium, iron, zinc, and magnesium
• Antioxidants: Including lutein for eye health

This comprehensive formulation can help address multiple nutritional deficiencies with a single product.

May Benefit Older Adults

Older adults often experience decreased appetite, taste changes, and difficulty maintaining adequate nutrition. The sweet taste of Pediasure may be particularly beneficial for seniors whose taste perception has diminished with age, potentially making nutrition more appealing.

Drawbacks and Concerns About Pediasure for Adults

Despite its potential benefits, Pediasure has several significant drawbacks that adults should consider before incorporating it into their nutritional regimen.

High Sugar Content

One of the most concerning aspects of Pediasure for adults is its added sugar content. A single 8-ounce serving of Pediasure Grow & Gain contains approximately 12 grams of added sugar.

The American Heart Association recommends that women limit added sugar intake to no more than 25 grams (6 teaspoons) daily, and men to no more than 36 grams (9 teaspoons) daily. Consuming just two servings of Pediasure would provide 24 grams of sugar—nearly the entire daily recommendation for women and two-thirds of the recommendation for men.

Excessive sugar consumption is linked to:

• Increased risk of type 2 diabetes
• Weight gain in the form of body fat rather than lean muscle
• Cardiovascular disease
• Dental cavities and tooth decay
• Inflammation throughout the body

Adults with diabetes, prediabetes, or metabolic syndrome should consult with their healthcare provider before using Pediasure regularly.

Contains Dairy

All Pediasure formulations contain milk-based proteins, making them unsuitable for:

• People following vegan or plant-based diets
• Individuals with milk allergies
• Those who avoid dairy for ethical or environmental reasons

However, some Pediasure products are low in lactose and may be tolerated by individuals with lactose intolerance, though this should be determined on an individual basis.

Expensive Compared to Alternatives

Pediasure is significantly more expensive than many adult nutritional supplements and dramatically more costly than obtaining equivalent nutrition through whole foods.

At approximately $1.90-$2.00 per bottle, consuming two servings daily would cost around $115-$120 per month. For three servings daily, costs would exceed $170 per month. This represents a substantial ongoing expense, especially for individuals on fixed incomes or those without insurance coverage for nutritional supplements.

Not Specifically Formulated for Adult Needs

While Pediasure is safe for adults, it’s formulated with children’s nutritional needs in mind. Adults may have different nutritional requirements, including:

• Higher protein needs for maintaining muscle mass with age
• Different vitamin and mineral ratios optimized for adult metabolism
• Additional nutrients specifically beneficial for adult health concerns

Adult-specific nutritional supplements are designed with these considerations in mind and may be more appropriate for meeting adult nutritional needs.

May Create Over-Reliance on Supplements

Depending too heavily on nutritional supplements may lead to neglecting whole food sources of nutrition. Whole foods provide fiber, phytonutrients, and beneficial compounds that supplements cannot fully replicate.

Pediasure vs. Adult Nutritional Supplements

It’s worth noting that Abbott Nutrition, the maker of Pediasure, also produces Ensure—a nutritional supplement specifically designed for adults. Comparing these products reveals interesting similarities:

Similarities Between Pediasure and Ensure

• The first six ingredients are nearly identical
• Similar calorie content per serving
• Comparable protein levels
• Similar fat content and composition
• Manufactured by the same company with similar quality standards

Key Differences

• Target audience: Pediasure is marketed to children; Ensure to adults
• Flavor profiles: Pediasure tends to be sweeter with more dessert-like flavors
• Nutrient ratios: Slight differences in vitamin and mineral proportions
• Price: Ensure is often slightly less expensive per serving
• Product varieties: Ensure offers more specialized formulations for specific adult health concerns

If you’re choosing between Pediasure and Ensure, your decision may come down to taste preference, specific nutritional needs, and cost considerations.

Better Alternatives to Pediasure for Adults

Before turning to nutritional supplements like Pediasure, healthcare professionals generally recommend first attempting to meet nutritional needs through dietary modifications. Whole foods should always be the primary source of nutrition, with supplements serving as a secondary option when dietary intake alone is insufficient.

Eat More Frequently

Rather than three large meals that may feel overwhelming, try consuming smaller, more frequent meals and snacks throughout the day. The “3-3-3 rule” can be helpful:

• 3 meals per day
• 3 snacks per day
• Eating approximately every 3 hours

This approach can help increase total daily calorie intake without requiring uncomfortably large portions at any single eating occasion.

Choose Nutrient-Dense, Calorie-Rich Foods

Focus on foods that provide substantial nutrition and calories in relatively small volumes:

Protein Sources:

• Fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, and sardines
• Eggs prepared with butter or oil
• Nuts and nut butters (almond, peanut, cashew)
• Seeds (chia, flax, pumpkin, sunflower)
• Beans and lentils
• Greek yogurt and cottage cheese

Healthy Fats:

• Avocados and avocado oil
• Olive oil (drizzle on vegetables, salads, and bread)
• Coconut and coconut oil
• Butter and ghee
• Full-fat dairy products

Carbohydrates:

• Whole grains like quinoa, rice, and oats
• Sweet potatoes and regular potatoes
• Whole grain bread and pasta
• Dried fruits (dates, raisins, apricots)
• Bananas and tropical fruits

Make Homemade High-Calorie Smoothies

Creating your own nutritional shakes at home offers several advantages over commercial supplements:

• Significantly lower cost
• Control over sugar content
• Ability to customize ingredients to your preferences and needs
• Higher fiber content from whole food ingredients
• Fresh, natural flavors without artificial additives

Basic High-Calorie Smoothie Formula

Combine these components for a nutritious, calorie-dense smoothie:

• Liquid base (1-2 cups): Whole milk, coconut milk, oat milk, or fruit juice
• Fruit (1-2 servings): Banana, avocado, mango, berries, or dates
• Protein (1-2 servings): Greek yogurt, protein powder, nut butter, or silken tofu
• Calorie boosters: Rolled oats, flaxseed, chia seeds, coconut oil, or honey
• Optional additions: Spinach, cacao powder, vanilla extract, or cinnamon

A homemade smoothie made with these ingredients can easily provide 400-600 calories per serving at a fraction of the cost of commercial supplements.

Consider Adult-Specific Nutritional Supplements

If dietary modifications alone are insufficient, consider nutritional supplements specifically formulated for adults, such as:

• Ensure (various formulations for different needs)
• Boost (available in high-protein and high-calorie versions)
• Kate Farms (plant-based option)
• Orgain (organic, plant-based option)

These products are designed with adult nutritional requirements in mind and often come in formulations targeting specific health concerns like muscle maintenance, bone health, or immune support.

When to Consult a Healthcare Professional

While nutritional supplements like Pediasure are generally safe, certain situations warrant professional medical guidance:

Seek Medical Advice If You Experience:

• Unintentional weight loss of more than 5% of body weight over 3-6 months
• Persistent loss of appetite lasting more than a few weeks
• Difficulty swallowing or painful swallowing
• Digestive symptoms like persistent nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Extreme fatigue or weakness
• Signs of malnutrition (hair loss, brittle nails, poor wound healing)

Professional Nutrition Support

Consider working with a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) who can:

• Assess your current nutritional status and needs
• Develop a personalized nutrition plan
• Recommend appropriate supplements if needed
• Monitor your progress and adjust recommendations
• Address underlying causes of poor nutrition
• Coordinate with your medical team

Many insurance plans cover nutrition counseling, especially when prescribed by a physician for medical conditions affecting nutrition.

Special Considerations for Specific Populations

Older Adults

Seniors face unique nutritional challenges including decreased appetite, reduced taste and smell perception, dental problems, and increased nutrient needs for maintaining muscle mass. While Pediasure can provide supplemental nutrition, older adults should prioritize protein intake and may benefit more from higher-protein formulations designed for aging adults.

People with Diabetes

The high sugar content in Pediasure makes it less than ideal for individuals with diabetes or insulin resistance. Diabetic-specific formulations like Glucerna (also by Abbott) or Boost Glucose Control are better options, as they’re designed to minimize blood sugar spikes.

Cancer Patients

Individuals undergoing cancer treatment often experience taste changes, nausea, and difficulty maintaining weight. While Pediasure’s sweet taste might be appealing, cancer patients should work closely with an oncology dietitian to determine the most appropriate nutritional support strategy. Some may benefit from specialized formulations designed for cancer-related malnutrition.

Post-Surgical Recovery

After surgery, protein needs increase significantly for wound healing and tissue repair. While Pediasure provides some protein, post-surgical patients may benefit from higher-protein supplements that provide 15-20 grams of protein per serving rather than Pediasure’s 7 grams.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many servings of Pediasure can adults drink daily?

While there’s no strict limit, most adults use 1-3 servings daily to supplement their regular diet. However, the high sugar content should be considered when determining appropriate intake, and total daily nutrition should primarily come from whole foods.

Will Pediasure cause weight gain in adults who don’t need it?

Yes, if Pediasure adds extra calories beyond your daily energy needs, it will contribute to weight gain regardless of whether that gain is desired. Those at a healthy weight who drink Pediasure without adjusting other calorie intake will likely gain weight.

Can Pediasure replace meals for adults?

Pediasure is designed as a nutritional supplement, not a meal replacement. While it can supplement inadequate dietary intake, it shouldn’t regularly replace whole meals, as it lacks the fiber, phytonutrients, and complex nutritional components found in whole foods.

Is there an age limit for drinking Pediasure?

There’s no upper age limit for Pediasure consumption. Adults of any age can safely drink it, though whether it’s the most appropriate choice depends on individual nutritional needs and health status.

Final Thoughts

Pediasure can serve as a safe nutritional supplement for adults seeking to gain weight, increase calorie intake, or address nutritional gaps. Its appealing taste, convenience, and comprehensive nutrient profile make it a viable option for some adults, particularly those who struggle with the taste of adult-specific supplements.

However, Pediasure’s high sugar content, dairy-based formulation, and relatively high cost compared to alternatives make it less than ideal for many adults. Additionally, since it’s formulated for children’s needs, it may not optimally address adult-specific nutritional requirements.

Before incorporating Pediasure or any nutritional supplement into your routine, consider these steps:

1. Evaluate your diet: Identify specific nutritional gaps and consider whether dietary modifications could address them
2. Consult healthcare providers: Discuss underlying causes of poor nutrition or unintentional weight loss
3. Compare options: Research adult-specific supplements that may better meet your needs
4. Consider cost: Evaluate whether homemade alternatives or other supplements offer better value
5. Monitor your response: Track changes in weight, energy, and overall health

Remember that nutritional supplements are most effective when used as part of a comprehensive approach to nutrition that prioritizes whole foods, regular eating patterns, and adequate hydration. While Pediasure can play a supportive role in adult nutrition, it works best as a supplement to—not a substitute for—a balanced, nutrient-rich diet.

If you’re struggling to maintain adequate nutrition or experiencing unintentional weight loss, working with a registered dietitian nutritionist or your healthcare provider can help you develop a personalized strategy that addresses your specific needs, preferences, and health goals.

Sources:

• National Institutes of Health – Oral nutritional supplements in adults
• World Health Organization – Malnutrition Fact Sheet
• American Heart Association – Added Sugars
• PubMed – Nutritional supplements and dietary interventions
• National Osteoporosis Foundation – Bone Health
• PubMed – Weight gain with oral nutritional supplementation
• NIH – Energy balance and weight management
• Abbott Pediasure Official Website
• Abbott Nutrition