Parkinson's disease and weight loss: a study with anthropometric and nutritional assessment

In order to investigate a putative weight loss in patients with Parkinson's disease, an anthropometric and biochemical study was undertaken. We compared body weight and indexes of fat [body mass index (BMI), tricipital skinfold] and lean [midarm muscle area (MMA), calf circumference] mass in men and women suffering from idiopathic Parkinson's disease with normal controls. We found that women suffering from Parkinson's disease exhibited a significant weight loss (-8.5%) and decreased calf circumference when compared with controls. A decrease (-4.3%) in total body weight was also found in men with Parkinson's disease but the difference did not reach the level of significance. Protein biochemical markers of nutritional status (albumin, prealbumin, retinol binding protein, transferrin) were normal in Parkinson's disease patients. The present study demonstrates the occurrence of weight loss in a large population of patients with Parkinson's disease. The putative mechanisms involved in the weight loss are discussed.