Nutrition of patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimers disease using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION & OBJECTIVES: Focus on the nutrition of patients with Alzheimer's disease is limited despite the need for optimization of overall patient health to improve well being and outcome. The objective of this study was to look at the nutrition and energy intake of patients with mild to moderate dementia. METHODS: Sixty patients with mild-to-moderate AD (Mini Mental State Examination score: 12-25; male:28; female: 32; age >65 years) were recruited from the clinics at the North Colombo Teaching Hospital, Ragama and Lanka Alzheimer's Foundation as part of the VCO-AD study, after informed consent. Baseline nutritional status was assessed by a Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) tool and dietary intake via a 24-hour dietary recall. RESULTS: The total energy intake of the study population (men: 1822±645 kcal/day, women: 1380±346 kcal/day) was lower than recommended standards. The percentage energy from fat, protein and carbohydrates (30.7±7.6%, 12.7±2.7%, and 56.8±8.7%, respectively) met recommendations. The energy intake from saturated fat (19.7±6.9%) however was higher than the recommendation. Vitamin C, D, E, folate, calcium, potassium, selenium and iodine intake (37.4±30.4 mg/day, 2.2±3.1 µg/day, 2.4±1.4 mg/day, 219±125 µ/day, 483.8±230.8 mg/day, 1853.9±590.8 mg/day, 38.1±22.7 µg/day, and 59.8±35.4 µg/day respectively) was lower than the estimated average requirements (EAR). MNA results showed that 20% were at risk of malnutrition. CONCLUSION: A higher saturated fat intake and lower vitamin intake were concerns in this population of patients with mild to moderate dementia.