Published in:
01-10-2018 | Original Article
Hyperhomocysteinemia influenced malnutrition in Parkinson’s disease patients
Published in: Neurological Sciences | Issue 10/2018
Login to get accessAbstract
Introduction
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease with many motor and non-motor symptoms. Hyperhomocysteinemia is reported in many PD patients. Homocysteine (Hcy) is reported to be a risk factor for some PD non-motor symptoms.
Aim
The aim was to analyze Hcy level and its correlation with physical activity and motor and some non-motor symptoms (depression and cognition) in PD patients.
Patients and methods
Patients were surveyed for physical activity and demographic data. Blood samples were obtained for Hcy, vitamin B12, and folic acid determination. The Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) parts III and IV, Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) Scale, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) were used to assess nutritional status, disease stage, and motor and some non-motor symptoms (depression and cognition) of PD in study patients.
Results
We analyzed 34 PD patients. Elevated Hcy level was found in 70.6% of these patients. Patients reporting regular exercise had lower Hcy level (p < 0.025). Hcy level yielded a statistically significant correlation with MNA score (rs = − 0.510; p < 0.003), UPDRS part III (rs = 0.372; p < 0.030), vitamin B12 (rs = − 0.519; p < 0.002), and folic acid (rs = − 0.502; p < 0.003) but not with cognition and depression. There were no statistically significant differences in Hcy level for disease stage either for dyskinesia or “off” periods.
Conclusion
PD patients are at a risk of hyperhomocysteinemia. Regular physical activity decreases Hcy level, whereas poor motor function increases it. There is correlation between Hcy level and malnutrition in PD patients.