Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by a reduction in dopamine in the central nervous system. It has a gradual progression, and is mainly known for causing tremors and difficulty in performing movements. Studies have shown that there is a significant change in the nutritional status of patients with PD. The main medication used in the treatment of patients is levodopa, and its use, without respecting the minimum intervals of 30 minutes before or one hour after meals, may diminish the pharmacological effect of the drug because of drug-nutrient interactions. The present study aimed to identify PD patients at nutritional and protein consumption risk associated with the use of levodopa in the city of Macaé. A cross-sectional quantitative and descriptive study was performed. The instruments used were the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and an estimated 3-day dietary record. The analysis was descriptive. To form the sample population a survey was performed of patients diagnosed with PD in two Department of Health programs and from the Parkinson's Association of Macaé. A total of 40 individuals were evaluated, of whom 57.5% were male. Of these, 62.5% presented a risk of malnutrition or MNA defined malnutrition, with nutritional deficit. The protein intake of the study population was 1.4 g/kg/day. The highest protein intake was during the day, including the meals between breakfast and the afternoon snack. A total of 74.7% of total protein was consumed by the population during this period. Overall, 75.0% of the elderly persons consumed their medications containing levodopa simultaneously with meals or did not follow the interval recommended by ANVISA. The study found that the total daily intake of most individuals was hyper-proteic, with proteic content being poorly distributed among meals throughout the day, and that they did not follow the recommended levodopa interval.
Key words:
Parkinson Disease; High-Protein Meal; Drug-Nutrient Interactions; Malnutrition; Levodopa.