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Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) - Full
Full MNA: The gold standard 18-item nutritional assessment. Complete both the Screening and Assessment sections for a final score out of 30.
Complete 18 Items
Part 1: Screening
A. Has food intake declined over the past 3 months due to loss of appetite, digestive problems, chewing or swallowing difficulties?
B. Weight loss during the last 3 months
C. Mobility
D. Has suffered psychological stress or acute disease in the past 3 months?
E. Neuropsychological problems
F. Body Mass Index (BMI)
If BMI unavailable, Calf Circumference (CC) in cm:
Part 2: Assessment
G. Lives independently (not in nursing home or hospital)?
H. Takes more than 3 prescription drugs per day?
I. Pressure sores or skin ulcers?
J. How many full meals does the patient eat daily?
K. Selected consumption markers for protein intake
At least 1 serving of dairy/day? Two or more servings of legumes/eggs/week? Meat, fish or poultry every day?
L. Consumes two or more servings of fruit or vegetables per day?
M. How much fluid is consumed per day? (Water, juice, coffee, tea, milk...)
N. Mode of feeding
O. Self view of nutritional status
P. In comparison with other people of the same age, how does the patient consider their health status?
Q. Mid-arm circumference (MAC) in cm
R. Calf circumference (CC) in cm
Guidelines & Evidence
Clinical Details
Section 1
When to Use
When to Use
Comprehensive nutritional assessment of older adults (≥65 years).
Diagnostic confirmation of malnutrition following an abnormal MNA-SF screen.
Guiding specific nutritional interventions in geriatric clinics, nursing homes, and hospitals.
Geriatric Specificity
Unlike general adult tools (like MUST) that focus solely on BMI and weight loss, the MNA incorporates geriatric syndromes (mobility, dementia, depression, skin ulcers, polypharmacy) that drive malnutrition in older adults.
Section 2
Formula & Logic
Scoring
18 items total (6 Screening items + 12 Assessment items).
Total score: 0–30
24 - 30: Normal nutritional status
17 - 23.5: At risk of malnutrition
< 17: Malnourished
Meals per day, protein/fruit/veg intake, fluid consumption, mode of feeding.
Subjective
Self-view of nutritional status and health.
Section 3
Pearls/Pitfalls
Calf Circumference as a Proxy
If BMI cannot be measured (e.g., bedbound patient cannot be weighed), the MNA allows calf circumference (<31 cm) to be substituted as a reliable proxy for loss of muscle mass (sarcopenia) in older adults.
Section 4
Next Steps
Management
Section 5
Evidence Appraisal
Primary Reference
Assessing the nutritional status of the elderly: The Mini Nutritional Assessment as part of the geriatric evaluation.
Guigoz Y et al. • Nutr Rev.. 1996;54(1 Pt 2):S59-65. The foundational paper establishing the MNA as the gold standard for geriatric nutritional assessment.
Section 6
Origins
Nestlé Research Centre and Toulouse University
Developed in 1994 by Yves Guigoz, Bruno Vellas, and colleagues. It was the first tool designed specifically to identify the risk of malnutrition in older adults before severe clinical weight loss or serum albumin drops occurred.
