Weight Loss in Parkinson's Disease and Role of Small Bowel Bacterial Overgrowth

SBBO is measured by the Hydrogen Breath Test, which measures the hydrogen and methane gas produced by bacteria in the small bowel that has diffused into the blood, then lungs for expiration. After an overnight fast, subjects ingested a solution consisting of 50 grams of glucose mixed in 150 mL of water. Immediately before ingestion of glucose and at 20-minute intervals for 2 hours following ingestion, laboratory staff collected end-expiratory breath samples and analyzed them for hydrogen and methane using a Quintron sample correction (SC) breath microlyzer. A diagnosis of SBBO was defined by an increase in expiration of 12 parts per million (ppm) or more of hydrogen and/or methane.

Time frame: Baseline to 2 hours

The GISSI is a validated, self-administered, multi-dimensional instrument designed to measure the frequency, severity and bothersomeness of individual GI symptoms and to provide subscale scores for interrelated symptom clusters. Factor analyses yielded 5 distinct symptom clusters that were labeled as Constipation/Difficult defecation; Abdominal Pain/Discomfort; Dyspepsia; Diarrhea/Fecal incontinence; Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)/Chest symptoms; and Nausea/Vomiting. Scores could range from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating greater severity of symptoms.

Time frame: Baseline

The GISSI is a validated, self-administered, multi-dimensional instrument designed to measure the frequency, severity and bothersomeness of individual GI symptoms and to provide subscale scores for interrelated symptom clusters. Factor analyses yielded 5 distinct symptom clusters that were labeled as Constipation/Difficult defecation; Abdominal Pain/Discomfort; Dyspepsia; Diarrhea/Fecal incontinence; Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)/Chest symptoms; and Nausea/Vomiting. Scores could range from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating greater severity of symptoms.

Time frame: baseline, 3 months

The HADS is a self-administered 14-item questionnaire (seven for anxiety and seven for depression) Items are rated on a 4-point scale from 0-3 and this means that a person can score between 0 (no symptoms) and 21 (severe symptoms) for either anxiety or depression. The cut-offs used for identifying significant psychiatric distress was \>/= 8. This assessment was only measured at baseline

Time frame: Baseline

The PPAQ is a validated, self-administered questionnaire that asks for a recall of physical activity of physical activity over the previous 1-week. From the answers to the questions, a physical activity index (PAI) can be computed, providing an estimate of energy expenditure in kcal/week. The PAI can be estimated using a list of the physical activities a person performs within a time period and the amount of time spent on each activity, e.g. walking to work, light housework, swimming, carrying bricks at work, or whatever applies to an individual person. There is a value called the physical activity ratio for each activity. The list of activities is used to find the relevant values of physical activity ratios, then an overall physical activity level value for the time period is calculated, using time-weighted averages of the physical activity ratios. This assessment was only measured at baseline.

Time frame: Baseline

The PDQ-39 is designed to address aspects of functioning and well-being for those affected by Parkinson's disease. This questionnaire is based on a multi-dimensional model of health. Eight subscale scores may be derived from the items: mobility (10 items), activities of daily living (6 items), emotional well-being (6 items), stigma (4 items), social support (3 items), cognitions (4 items), communication (3 items), bodily discomfort (3 items). Patients are asked to think about their health and general well-being and to consider how often in the last month they have experienced certain events (e.g. difficulty walking 100 yards). Patients are asked to indicate the frequency of each event by selecting one of 5 options (Likert Scale): Never/occasionally/sometimes/often/always or cannot do at all. Each dimension is calculated as a scale from 0 to 100, with 0= no problem at all; 100= maximum level of problem. Sub-scale score are averaged to calculate the summary index.

Time frame: baseline

The PDQ-39 is designed to address aspects of functioning and well-being for those affected by Parkinson's disease. This questionnaire is based on a multi-dimensional model of health. Eight subscale scores may be derived from the items: mobility (10 items), activities of daily living (6 items), emotional well-being (6 items), stigma (4 items), social support (3 items), cognitions (4 items), communication (3 items), bodily discomfort (3 items). Patients are asked to think about their health and general well-being and to consider how often in the last month they have experienced certain events (e.g. difficulty walking 100 yards). Patients are asked to indicate the frequency of each event by selecting one of 5 options (Likert Scale): Never/occasionally/sometimes/often/always or cannot do at all. Each dimension is calculated as a scale from 0 to 100, with 0= no problem at all; 100= maximum level of problem. Sub-scale score are averaged to calculate the summary index.

Time frame: Baseline and 3 months

Weight change after treatment

Time frame: baseline, 3 months

The FFQ is a validated, self-administered semi-quantitative questionnaire used to assess differences in macronutrient, and energy intake. It was designed to provide estimates of usual and customary dietary intake. This questionnaire contains a food list of about 70 food items. A Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) is a limited checklist of foods and beverages with a frequency response section for subjects to report how often each item was consumed over a specified period of time. Semi-quantitative FFQs collect portion size information as standardized portions or as a choice of portion sizes. Calculations for nutrient intake or calories can be estimated via computerized software programs that multiply the reported frequency of each food by the amount of nutrient or calories in a serving of that food.

Time frame: Baseline