Background: To achieve optimum bone health, numerous factors are required such as a balanced diet, regular weight bearing physical activity and appropriate lifestyle habits. Malnutrition is a major risk factor for osteoporotic fractures. It is a very common problem in the elderly population and is often under diagnosed. The MNA test is a validated screening tool for malnutrition and is recommended for early detection of risk of malnutrition.
Aims: The aim of our study was to assess the possible relationship between MNA and bone ultrasound (QUS) measurements at the heel (bone ultrasound attenuation-BUA) Methods: As part of on going study, we assessed MNA and QUS in 256 elderly Swiss ambulatory women who had reported a fracture
in their life-time (mean age 80.6 yrs, BMI 24.6 kg/m2, BUA 96.8). QUS was done with Achilles, Lunar Corporation as this approach was predictive of fracture risk in elderly women. The Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), a non invasive questionnaire which evaluates nutritional status in elderly people, was filled in by each woman. The MNA asks 18 questions to evaluate the nutritional status of the subject. The score ranges from 0-30 (\17 indicates
malnutrition, 17.5-23.5 risk of malnutrition and[or = 24 well nourished).
Results: A higher MNA score was significantly associated with higher BUA (r = 0.149, p\0.05). BUA increased significantly between MNA quartile 1 and MNA quartile 4 (Q1 = 23.5, Q2 = 26.5, Q3 = 28, Q4 = 30). The difference among the mean scores of BUA of the 4 groups was significant according to the
multiple-range test (one-way analysis of variance with Tukey's test)
(p = 0.004), as well as the F test linearity (p = 0.015).
Conclusion: High MNA (low malnutrition risk) score was correlated with higher BUA in fractured women, but the effect of the association was relatively low compared to age and BMI. The MNA appears to be a useful tool for the evaluation of osteoporotic patients. Conflict of Interest: None declared