Factors Contributing to Malnutrition in Parkinson's Disease Patients With Freezing of Gait.

Li-Li Zhang,Liang Zhang,Xiao-Ping Wang,Ying Zhao,Jingde Dong

doi:10.3389/fneur.2022.816315

Abstract

Background and PurposeLittle is known about the nutritional status and clinical characteristics of patients with Parkinson's disease with freezing of gait (PDFOG). The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship between nutritional status and characteristics of patients with PDFOG.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 178 PDFOG patients were recruited and classified as nutritionally normal or at risk of malnutrition/already malnourished based on their Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) scores. Each participant underwent a structured questionnaire, physical examination and routine serum biochemical tests.ResultsWe found that 44.4 and 37.1% of PDFOG patients were malnourished [mini nutritional assessment (MNA) score <17] and at risk of malnutrition (17 ≤ MNA score ≤ 23.5), respectively. Compared to patients with normal nutrition, PDFOG patients with malnutrition and at risk of malnutrition had longer duration of Parkinson's disease (PD) and freezing of gait (FOG), more levodopa equivalent daily doses (LEDD), lower body mass index (BMI), more motor symptoms according to the Unified PD Rating Scale-III (UPDRS-III) and non-motor symptoms according to the PD Non-motor Symptoms Questionnaire (PD-NMS) (P < 0.05). Uric acid, albumin, prealbumin, and total cholesterol (TC) differed between the two groups (P < 0.05). High Hoehn and Yahr (H-Y) stage, high Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (FOGQ) scores, low TC and low uric acid were risk factors for malnutrition in patients with PDFOG.ConclusionOur results showed disease severity, motor symptoms, TC levels and uric acid levels were all associated with nutritional status in patients with PDFOG. This study suggest early discovery of the nutritional status of PDFOG patients is important.

Highlights

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders associated with the progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra and the formation of Lewy bodies
According to the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), we found that 44.4 and 37.1% of Parkinson’s disease with freezing of gait (PDFOG) patients were malnourished [mini nutritional assessment (MNA) score
The results of this study suggested that the nutritional status of PDFOG patients were associated with motor symptoms: higher UPDRS-III scores and FOGQ scores

Summary

Introduction

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders associated with the progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra and the formation of Lewy bodies. The nutritional status of patients with PD is closely related to their quality of life [2]. Our team and previous studies have confirmed that patients with PD are at high risk for malnutrition [3, 4]. Factors Contributing to Malnutrition have demonstrated that the incidence of PD can be reduced by changing dietary outcomes, such as reducing milk and increasing intake of vegetables, fruits and fish, having a high diet quality or a healthy dietary pattern [5, 6]. Duration of PD, motor and nonmotor PD symptoms are closely related to nutritional status [7]. Little is known about the nutritional status and clinical characteristics of patients with Parkinson’s disease with freezing of gait (PDFOG).

Objectives

Results

Conclusion