Correlation of Nutritional Status with the Severity of Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease

Background: Nutrition plays a vital role in both the progression and potential neuroprotection of Parkinson's disease.Objective: To evaluate the nutritional status of patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and to investigate its correlation with the severity of the condition.Methods: This study was a cross -sectional observational study conducted over a period from November 2018 to March 2020 in the Department of General Medicine and the Department of Neurology among patients presenting with idiopathic Parkinson's disease.Results: The study involved 50 participants with an average age of 63.9 years.The sample was fairly balanced between those under and over 65 years, with 64% male participants.A significant difference in BMI distribution was observed across Parkinson's disease severity.Anemia was common, affecting over 50% in the early illness group, 73.3% in the moderate group, and all those with severe illness, though this was not statistically significant.Nutrient deficiencies were noted: 10.5% of early illness participants had calcium deficiency, and vitamin D deficiency affected 42.1% in early illness.Folate and vitamin B12 deficiencies were seen in a substantial portion of the sample.Correlations between nutritional factors and Parkinson's severity showed that BMI and hemoglobin were significantly negatively correlated with the Webster score, suggesting that lower BMI and hemoglobin levels are associated with higher disease severity.Age showed a weak, non -significant positive correlation with severity.Other nutrients like calcium, magnesium, albumin, vitamin D, folate, and vitamin B12 showed weak or insignificant correlations with disease severity.Anemia, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D deficiencies were more prevalent in those with moderate Parkinson's severity, while vitamin B12 deficiency was equally common across severity levels.Conclusion: The study reaffirms the importance of regular nutritional assessments in PD patients, particularly for parameters such as hemoglobin, vitamin D, folate, and B12 levels.Early identification and management of nutritional deficiencies can potentially mitigate symptom severity, improve overall health, and enhance the quality of life.