Prevalence of poor nutrition status in multiple sclerosis patients assessed by different diagnostic tools

Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) present a spectrum of nutritional disorders from obesity to malnutrition. The purpose of this study was an assessment of the nutritional status of MS patients by NRS-2002 and GLIM criteria.

147 patients were included in the study. The nutritional status was assessed by NRS 2002, GLIM, and body composition analysis. The routine biochemical parameters were measured.

Deterioration of the nutritional status was observed in 87.8% of patients. GLIM criteria indicated that 20% of patients were malnourished and 80% were at risk. The percentage of patients with excess body mass was 46.8%, and of underweight patients was 6.6%. The risk of malnutrition was positively associated with low content of adipose tissue (R=-0.24; p=0.00), low BMI (R=-0.22; p=0.00), and higher weight loss in the last 6 months (R=0.47; p=0.00). Additionally, a significant (p<0.05) correlation between malnutrition state and s-albumin (R=-0.2) and CRP (R=0.23) was observed.

Overweight and obesity concerned a large proportion of the studied group of MS patients, but this does not exclude the risk of malnutrition. Dietary care and regular outpatient nutritional status assessment should be provided throughout the disease.