Indicators and prevalence of malnutrition in motor neurone disease

We investigated the nutritional status of a cross-sectional sample of 47 patients with motor neurone disease (MND). Anthropometric measurements (mid-arm circumference and triceps skinfold thickness) and dietary analysis were taken by a trained observer. 21% of patients were moderately to severely malnourished. Patients with bulbar onset were no more likely to be malnourished than patients with limb onset. Measurements of mid-upper-arm muscle circumference indicated that men were more malnourished than women (p = 0.002). We conclude that malnutrition is more prevalent than generally appreciated in patients with MND, including those who do not have swallowing difficulties.