Few mild-to-moderate Parkinson's disease patients suffer from malnutrition, yet almost one-third are at risk
Results from 1 of the first controlled studies counters common belief, according to new article in the journal of Parkinson's disease
Amsterdam, NL, 11 September 2014 – Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) can experience difficulties with food preparation and ingestion, which could contribute to poor nutrition and place them at risk for malnourishment. Published studies have also suggested that PD is associated with low weight, however, few studies included control groups. A report published in the Journal of Parkinson's Disease counters this conclusion in patients with mild-to-moderate PD, finding that the incidence or risk of malnutrition is no different for patients with mild-to-moderate PD compared to healthy controls.
"To our knowledge, this is one of the few studies worldwide that includes matched controls," says lead author Seyed-Mohammad Fereshtehnejad, MD, MPH, of the Division of Clinical Geriatrics of the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences, and Society of the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, and the Firoozgar Clinical Research Development Center, Firoozgar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran. "The results of this study indicate the same nutritional status among mild-to-moderate PD patients compared with healthy controls."
Many factors could lead to poor nutrition in PD patients, including motor difficulties with swallowing and chewing (dysphagia), cutting, and bringing food to the mouth. PD-related constipation and depression can also dampen a patient's appetite and change dietary habits. Consequences of malnutrition include higher medical costs, lower quality of life, and increased risk of morbidity and mortality.
To determine if PD patients are malnourished, 143 Iranian mild-to-moderate PD patients and 145 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Any PD patients suffering from other chronic conditions influencing nutritional state, such as hypertension or diabetes, were following special diets, or exhibiting cognitive impairment were excluded.
Nutritional status was evaluated using the Persian version of the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) questionnaire. In 10-15 minute interviews, patients answered 18 questions about appetite, dietary matters, feeding, self-perception of health, nutrition and malnutrition and were assessed for body mass index (BMI), weight loss, and arm and calf circumference. The maximum score on the MNA is 30; scores of 24-30 signify healthy nutrition, 17-23.5 indicate risk for malnutrition, and END
"To our knowledge, this is one of the few studies worldwide that includes matched controls," says lead author Seyed-Mohammad Fereshtehnejad, MD, MPH, of the Division of Clinical Geriatrics of the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences, and Society of the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, and the Firoozgar Clinical Research Development Center, Firoozgar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran. "The results of this study indicate the same nutritional status among mild-to-moderate PD patients compared with healthy controls."
Many factors could lead to poor nutrition in PD patients, including motor difficulties with swallowing and chewing (dysphagia), cutting, and bringing food to the mouth. PD-related constipation and depression can also dampen a patient's appetite and change dietary habits. Consequences of malnutrition include higher medical costs, lower quality of life, and increased risk of morbidity and mortality.
To determine if PD patients are malnourished, 143 Iranian mild-to-moderate PD patients and 145 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Any PD patients suffering from other chronic conditions influencing nutritional state, such as hypertension or diabetes, were following special diets, or exhibiting cognitive impairment were excluded.
Nutritional status was evaluated using the Persian version of the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) questionnaire. In 10-15 minute interviews, patients answered 18 questions about appetite, dietary matters, feeding, self-perception of health, nutrition and malnutrition and were assessed for body mass index (BMI), weight loss, and arm and calf circumference. The maximum score on the MNA is 30; scores of 24-30 signify healthy nutrition, 17-23.5 indicate risk for malnutrition, and END