The evaluation of the nutritional status in Parkinson’s disease: geriatric nutritional risk index comparison with mini nutritional assessment questionnaire

ABSTRACT

Objective

The symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease may lead to reduced food consumption and in turn, malnutrition. It is therefore important to apply a reliable nutrition screening tool to evaluate the nutritional status of individuals with Parkinson's disease. This cross-sectional study aims to compare the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) questionnaire and the Geriatric Nutrition Risk Index (GNRI) in the assessment of the nutritional status of individuals with Parkinson’s disease, and to evaluate the usability of the GNRI in cases of Parkinson’s disease.

Methods

The study was conducted with 89 individuals over the age of 60 who were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Study data were collected using a questionnaire form administered through face-to-face interviews, the MNA-Long Form (MNA-LF), and the GNRI was calculated.

Results

The mean GNRI scores were significantly lower in the participants with malnutrition (106.5 ± 19.4) than in the participants at risk of malnutrition (121.0 ± 10.3) and the participants with no malnutrition (125.3 ± 9.6) according to the MNA-LF (p < 0.001). Although there was a positive correlation between the MNA-LF and the GNRI scores, this correlation was not significant (p = 0.095).

Conclusions

This is the first study to research the nutritional status of individuals with Parkinson’s disease using the GNRI. The malnutrition rate detected by GNRI was found to be lower than MNA in Parkinson's patients receiving outpatient treatment. Similar studies are recommended to determine the usability of GNRI on inpatients.

KEYWORDS:

• Parkinson’s disease
• malnutrition
• nutritional status
• geriatrics
• GNRI
• MNA
• screening tool
• albumine

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all participants for their participation in the study and Doç. Dr. Ferhan Elmalı who did the statistical analysis of the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported financially by Erciyes University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit (Project code: THD-2019-9354).

Notes on contributors

Müge Yılmaz

Müge Yılmaz graduated from Hacettepe University, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics in 1995. She completed his doctorate education at Erciyes University, Department of Public Health in 2014 and is working as an Assistant Professor. She is a member of the Turkish Dietetic Association.

Tutku Atuk Kahraman

Tutku Atuk Kahraman graduated from Erciyes University, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics in 2016. Currently, she is continuing his doctorate education at Erciyes University, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, and is working as a Research Assistant.

Emine Kurtbeyoğlu

Emine Kurtbeyoğlu graduated from Erciyes University, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics in 2014. Currently, she is continuing his doctorate education at Erciyes University, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, and is working as a Research Assistant.

Nurefşan Konyalıgil Öztürk

Nurefşan Konyalıgil Öztürk graduated from Trakya University, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics in 2014. Currently, she is continuing his doctorate education at Erciyes University, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, and is working as a Research Assistant.

Murat Gültekin

Murat Gültekin graduated from Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine in 2002. Between 2003 and 2009, he received specialization training at Erciyes University, Department of Neurology. He has been working as an Associate Professor since 2018. He is a member of the Turkey Alzheimer's Association and Parkinson's Patients Association.