Nutrition Journal (Sep 2011)

A prospective study of nutrition education and oral nutritional supplementation in patients with Alzheimer's disease

  • Brant César Q,
  • Okamoto Ivan H,
  • Novo Neil F,
  • Juliano Yara,
  • da Silva Rosimeire V,
  • Pivi Glaucia AK,
  • Bertolucci Paulo HF

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2891-10-98
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 1
p. 98

Abstract

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Abstract Background Weight loss in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common clinical manifestation that may have clinical significance. Objectives To evaluate if there is a difference between nutrition education and oral nutritional supplementation on nutritional status in patients with AD. Methods A randomized, prospective 6-month study which enrolled 90 subjects with probable AD aged 65 years or older divided into 3 groups: Control Group (CG) [n = 27], Education Group (EG) [n = 25], which participated in an education program and Supplementation Group (SG) [n = 26], which received two daily servings of oral nutritional supplementation. Subjects were assessed for anthropometric data (weight, height, BMI, TSF, AC and AMC), biochemical data (total protein, albumin, and total lymphocyte count), CDR (Clinical Dementia Rating), MMSE (Mini-mental state examination), as well as dependence during meals. Results The SG showed a significant improvement in the following anthropometric measurements: weight (H calc = 22.12, p = Conclusion Oral nutritional supplementation is more effective compared to nutrition education in improving nutritional status.

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