Impact of the nutritional supplements in patients with motor disease

Abstract

Neurological patients frequently evolve with worsening of the nutritional condition. This study was to describe the impact of oral nutritional supplements in 20 patients with motor neurone disease (MND)/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The patients received nutritional supplements by six consecutive months. They were submitted to bimonthly nutritional evaluation, with anthropometric measurements – weight (W), stature, arm circumference (MAC), upper arm circumference (MUAC) and triceps skinfold (TSF), fat-area (FA) – and bioelectrical impedance analysis to evaluate corporal composition. The age varied among 36 to 70 year-old, with 55 average and medium of 59,5 year-old. Fifteen patients (75%) presented ALS as manifestation form and five patients presented progressive bulbar palsy (PBP). We observed a prevalence of men in a proportion of about 2:1. Due to the characteristics of the disease, only ten patients finished the evaluation. It was observed gradual diminution of body mass index (BMI), MAC, MUAC, FA e TSF. The fat-free mass/fat mass relation values haven’t changed in both groups during the study. The nutritional condition classification hasn’t modified for 70% of the patients – it was not capable of correcting the global averages of adaptation.