Relationships Between Nutritional Markers and the Mini‐Nutritional Assessment in 155 Older Persons

TLDR

The study aimed to examine how comprehensive nutritional assessments correlate with the Mini‑Nutritional Assessment (MNA) screening tool in older adults. A prospective study of 155 older adults (mean age 78) in a geriatric unit or community assessed anthropometrics, biochemical markers, dietary intake, and MNA scores. MNA scores were significantly correlated with dietary intake, anthropometric, and biochemical markers, and a score of 17–23.5 identified mild malnutrition, demonstrating that MNA is a practical, noninvasive, cost‑effective tool for rapid nutritional evaluation and intervention in frail older adults.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE : To investigate the relationships between nutritional status measured by a comprehensive nutritional assessment including anthropometric measurements, nutritional biological markers, evaluation of dietary intake, and the Mini‐Nutritional Assessment (MNA) nutrition screening tool. DESIGN : A prospective study. PARTICIPANTS : One hundred fifty‐five older subjects (53 men and 102 women; mean age = 78 years; range = 56–97 years). These participants were hospitalized in a geriatric evaluation unit (n = 105) or free living in the community (n = 50). MEASUREMENT : Weight, height, knee height, midarm and calf circumferences, triceps and subscapular skinfolds, albumin, transthyretin (prealbumin), transferrin, ceruloplasmin, C‐reactive protein, alpha 1 ‐acid glycoprotein, cholesterol, vitamins A, D, E, B 1 , B 2 , B 6 , B 12 , folate, copper, zinc, a 3 day food record combined with a food‐frequency questionnaire; the MNA nutritional screening. RESULTS : The MNA scores have been found to be significantly correlated to nutritional intake ( P < .05 for energy, carbohydrates, fiber, calcium, vitamin D, iron, vitamin B6, and vitamin C), anthropometric and biological nutritional parameters (P < .001 for albumin, transthyretin, transferrin, cholesterol, retinol, alpha‐tocopherol, 25‐OH cholecalciferol zinc). An MNA score between 17 and 23.5 can identify those persons with mild malnutrition in which nutrition intervention may be effective. CONCLUSIONS : The MNA is a practical, noninvasive, and cost‐effective instrument allowing for rapid nutritional evaluation and effective intervention in frail older persons.