Dopaminergic agents and nutritional status in Parkinson's disease.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition has been found in up to 24% of patients with Parkinson's disease; dopaminergic drugs might impair nutritional status. We evaluated the association of nutritional status with the use of dopaminergic agents. METHODS: We analyzed data from 75 elderly patients with Parkinson's disease attending a geriatric day hospital. Nutritional status was assessed by the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Dopaminergic drugs were normalized for weight. RESULTS: In linear regression, total levodopa (l-dopa) equivalent daily dose (LEDD) was associated with worse MNA (B = -0.14, 95% CI = -0.26--0.02; P = 0.019). This association remained significant only for l-dopa (B = -0.19, 95% CI = -0.32--0.52; P = 0.007), but not dopaminergic agent dosages. Increasing l-dopa dosages were associated with increasing probability of risk of malnutrition (P for trend = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: In our population, LEDD was associated with worse nutritional status and risk of malnutrition; this association was limited to use of l-dopa.