Dietary quality and the gut microbiome in early-stage Parkinson’s disease patients

ABSTRACT

Background

The prevalence of Parkinson’s disease (PD) has increased steadily with the increase of the elderly population. PD may influence dietary intake and quality, and the gut microbiome composition. The present study examined differences in dietary intake and quality between PD patients and controls according to sex. In addition, we assessed the gut microbiome composition.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted at A Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea. PD severity, swallowing function, olfactory function, and constipation status were examined by a skilled nurse. Dietary data were collected through a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Stool samples were subjected to microbiome analysis. To examine dietary quality, the Dietary Quality Index-International (DQI-I), Healthy Eating Index (HEI), Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ), Dietary Diversity Score (DDS), and Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) were used. An independent t-test was used to determine differences between patients and controls. A chi-square test was used to examine frequency differences.

Results

Dietary intake did not differ between the PD patient and control groups. Regarding dietary quality, the patients consumed more saturated fat compared to controls. Overall, the dietary differences between the groups were minor. The composition of the gut microbiome differed between PD patients and controls. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium genus were most abundant in PD patients. Prevotella VZCB and other Faecalibacterium were most abundant in controls.

Conclusions

Our results indicated that PD patients may experience gut microbiome change even in the early stage, while nutritional needs can be met when a balanced diet including various food groups are consumed.

KEYWORDS:

• Parkinson’s disease
• diet
• food and nutrition
• gastrointestinal microbiome
• index
• healty eating
• Nutrition Status
• gender differences

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the patients who participated in our study, and their spouses. Hyun Jeong Yoon: Data acquisition & analysis; Writing-original draft. Woorim Kang: Data analysis & interpretation. Sungyang Jo: Study conceptualization and design; Data acquisition & interpretation. Yun Su Hwang: Data acquisition. Je Hee Lee: Data analysis. Sun Ju Chung: Study conceptualization & design. Yoo Kyoung Park: Study conceptualization & design; Data interpretation; Writing-original draft; Writing-review.

Disclosure statement

Woorim Kang and Je Hee Lee are employed by CJ Bioscience Inc., which developed the EzBioCloud service. All study participants provided written informed consent.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author, Y. Park.

Ethical statement

This study was appro`ved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Asan Medical Center (No. 2019-0929) on July, 26th, 2019 and was conducted according to the Declaration of Helsinki.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Korean Healthcare Technology R&D Project, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea (grant number: HI19C0256), the Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Republic of Korea (grant number: 2018-0622) and National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST) Aging Convergence Research Center (grant number CRC22011-600).

Notes on contributors

Hyun Jeong Yoon

Hyun Jeong Yoon, graduate student, currently majoring nutrition. Her research interest focuses on the relationship between nutrient intake and chronic illness.

Woorim Kang

Woorim Kang, Doctor of Science (Nanopharmaceutical Science), Employee of CJ Bioscience, Microbiologist, Bioinformatician, Clinical research professional.

Sungyang Jo

Sungyang Jo, Clinical instructor, specialized in movement disorders and dementia, published articles related to genetics and environmental risk factor for Parkinson's disease, and other clinical studies for movement disorders.

Yun Su Hwang

Yun Su Hwang, Clinical professor of neurology, specialized in Movement Disorders, published articles related to Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease.

Je Hee Lee

Je Hee Lee, Doctor of science (Microbiology) Employee of CJ Bioscience, Cheif Researcher, Microbiologist.

Sun Ju Chung

Sun Ju Chung, Professor of Neurology, specialized in Movement Disorders, published articles related to genetics and environmental risk factor for Parkinson's disease, and other clinical studies for movement disorders.

Yoo Kyoung Park

Yoo Kyoung Park, Full professor at the dept. of Medical Nutrition. Her research focuses on nutritional aspects of non-communicable diseases and diseases associated with the elderly.