ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To monitor the nutritional status of patients with Parkinson's disease using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) questionnaire. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a 3-year longitudinal study conducted in a national referral centre for Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders. The cohort included 61 Parkinson's disease patients, 37 men and 24 women, mean age of 70.5 +/- 5.5 years, mean duration of disease 9 +/- 6.3 years; 35 patients were followed-up after 3 years. RESULTS: MNA score diminished from 24.9 +/- 1.6 to 24 +/- 2.5 (P = 0.02); the proportion of patients at risk of malnutrition increased from 22.9% to 34.3%. A linear correlation was observed between MNA score and the duration of disease (P = 0.0096). The dietary assessment subscore significantly diminished (8.6 versus 8.1; P = 0.0009) as did body mass index (25.9 +/- 3.5 kg/m(2) versus 27.1 +/- 3.1 kg/m(2); P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The evaluation of nutritional status should be part of the routine work-up of a Parkinson's disease patient. Dietary education should be included amongst the therapeutic measures designed to improve the general conditions in Parkinson's disease.
Subject(s)
Malnutrition/etiology , Nutrition Assessment , Parkinson Disease/complications , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Body Mass Index , Female , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Malnutrition/diagnosis , Malnutrition/prevention & control , Nutritional Status , Patient Education as Topic , Surveys and Questionnaires , Weight LossABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To establish whether a diet based on the usage of low-protein products for renal patients (LPP) is associated with higher energy expenditure (EE) than a free low-protein diet (NO-LPP) by calculating 24 h EE by indirect calorimetry using an electronic armband monitor. DESIGN: Randomized, cross-over, single-blind, pilot clinical trial performed comparing two different low-protein dietary regimens. SUBJECTS: Forty-two days with LPP and 42 days with NO-LPP regimen in six patients with Parkinson's disease with levodopa. METHODS: Monitoring patient response to two different nutritional schemes through indirect calorimetry (armband), BMI, Patient Global Improvement Scale. RESULTS: Mean total EE was 1731 +/- 265 kcal/day with NO-LPP vs. 1903 +/- 265 kcal/day with LPP (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The usage of LPP increases EE and improves motor function in PD patients to a greater extent than NO-LPP dietary regimen. Calorie intake should be increased to prevent malnutrition in the long-term.
