What is mna in nutrition assessment? A Comprehensive Guide

December 25, 2025 •

3 min read

Malnutrition in hospitalized elderly patients can increase hospital stays and risk of mortality. The Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) was developed as a validated tool to help clinicians identify older adults who are either malnourished or at risk of malnutrition, enabling timely intervention.

Quick Summary

The Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) is a validated tool for screening malnutrition risk in adults aged 65 and older. It assesses dietary habits, weight loss, mobility, acute illness, and other factors to classify individuals as well-nourished, at risk, or malnourished.

Key Points

MNA Definition: The Mini Nutritional Assessment is a validated tool for screening and assessing malnutrition risk, primarily in elderly individuals aged 65 and over.
Two Versions: The process utilizes a quick, 6-item MNA-Short Form (MNA-SF) for initial screening, and a more detailed, 18-item full MNA for at-risk individuals.
Comprehensive Assessment: The full MNA evaluates four main areas: anthropometric measurements (e.g., BMI), general health, dietary intake, and subjective patient perception.
Scoring for Intervention: MNA scores categorize patients as normal, at risk of malnutrition, or malnourished, guiding clinicians toward appropriate interventions ranging from monitoring to immediate dietary support.
Clinical Impact: The MNA is important in clinical practice because it helps identify nutritional risk before severe changes occur, leading to improved patient outcomes, reduced hospital stays, and lower mortality.
Easy to Use: The MNA-SF is fast to administer and requires no specialized training, making it highly practical for routine screening in various care settings.

Understanding the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA)

The Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) is a widely respected nutritional screening and assessment tool specifically designed for older adults (65 years and over). Developed in the mid-1990s, the MNA is used to identify elderly patients who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. Its use is particularly critical in geriatric populations, where nutritional deficiencies can lead to severe health complications, prolonged hospital stays, and increased morbidity and mortality. The MNA is not just a screening instrument but a two-step process that allows for a deeper dive into a patient's nutritional status if a risk is identified.

The Two Versions: MNA-SF and Full MNA

There are two main versions of the Mini Nutritional Assessment tool: the MNA-Short Form (MNA-SF) and the full MNA. The MNA-SF is a quick, initial screening tool consisting of six questions that can be completed in under 5 minutes. If a patient's MNA-SF score indicates a risk for malnutrition, the healthcare professional proceeds to the full, 18-item MNA for a more in-depth assessment. This two-step process streamlines evaluation, saving time for those who are well-nourished while ensuring those at risk receive a thorough review.

Components of the Full MNA

The comprehensive, 18-item MNA is divided into four key areas to provide a holistic view of the patient's nutritional health:

Anthropometric Assessment: Measures physical characteristics related to nutritional status.
- Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Weight loss over the last three months
- Mid-arm circumference (MAC)
- Calf circumference (CC)
General Assessment: Focuses on the patient's lifestyle and medical history.
- Lifestyle (e.g., independence)
- Medication usage
- Mobility status
- History of psychological stress or acute disease
- Neuropsychological problems (e.g., dementia, depression)
Dietary Assessment: Evaluates the patient's eating habits and patterns.
- Number of meals consumed daily
- Food and fluid intake
- Specific consumption markers for protein, fruits, and vegetables
- Mode of feeding (self-feeding ability)
Subjective Assessment: Captures the patient's perception of their own health.
- Self-perception of nutritional status
- Self-assessment of health status compared to peers

Scoring and Interpretation

Scoring the MNA is a straightforward process based on points assigned to the answers in each section. Higher scores indicate a healthier nutritional status.

MNA-SF Scoring:

12-14 points: Normal nutritional status (no further action needed, routine monitoring)
8-11 points: At risk of malnutrition (requires full MNA assessment)
0-7 points: Malnourished (requires full MNA assessment and immediate intervention)

Full MNA Scoring:

24-30 points: Normal nutritional status
17-23.5 points: At risk of malnutrition
Less than 17 points: Malnourished

MNA vs. MNA-SF: A Comparative Analysis

The Clinical Importance of the MNA

The MNA's clinical significance lies in its ability to predict a range of patient outcomes, including mortality and hospital costs, making it more than just a diagnostic tool. By catching nutritional problems early, healthcare providers can initiate timely interventions, which can reverse nutritional decline, improve a patient's overall health, and reduce complications. The detailed information from the full MNA helps pinpoint the specific areas of concern, such as a low protein intake or mobility issues, allowing for a tailored and effective nutritional support plan. Its use is recommended by many national and international health organizations, including the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN), particularly for geriatric patients. For further information on the MNA, an authoritative resource can be found at the MNA Elderly Website.

Conclusion

The Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) is a vital, well-validated tool for geriatric nutrition assessment. Through its efficient two-step process, starting with the MNA-SF and progressing to the full MNA when necessary, it effectively screens for and assesses malnutrition risk in older adults. By providing a clear scoring system based on anthropometric, general, dietary, and subjective factors, the MNA empowers clinicians to make informed decisions and initiate appropriate nutritional interventions. Its widespread adoption underscores its importance in clinical practice for preventing and treating malnutrition, ultimately leading to better health outcomes for the elderly.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary purpose of the MNA is to identify geriatric patients, aged 65 and older, who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition.

The MNA-SF is a 6-item screening tool used for initial, rapid assessment. If the score indicates a risk for malnutrition, the more comprehensive, 18-item full MNA is then used for a detailed assessment.

For the full MNA, a score of 24-30 indicates normal nutritional status, 17-23.5 means the patient is at risk, and less than 17 points means they are malnourished.

The MNA can be administered by a variety of health professionals, including physicians, dietitians, and nurses. The MNA-SF is simpler and can often be completed by support staff with proper training.

The MNA was specifically developed and validated for the elderly population, taking into account factors like functionality, depression, and dementia, which are particularly relevant to this age group.

The MNA helps guide interventions by identifying specific areas of nutritional deficit based on the patient's scores. Clinicians can then use this information to create a tailored nutritional support plan, such as dietary counseling or supplements.

While it is primarily a screening and assessment tool, the MNA can be used for follow-up screenings to monitor changes in a patient's nutritional status and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.