Dietitians are a critical component of your care team in Parkinson’s management.

A well-balanced diet is recommended for people with Parkinson’s to help meet their daily nutritional needs and energy requirements. Eating adequately and appropriately is just as important as taking medication, exercising regularly, and connecting with others.

Should an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) be on my multidisciplinary care team?

There are common misconceptions that nutrition is only important in the mid to late stages of Parkinson’s and primarily for older individuals. However, nutrition is crucial from diagnosis through all stages of Parkinson’s. Having an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) as a member of your multidisciplinary care team in Parkinson’s management is incredibly beneficial and highly recommended.

What is an APD?

An Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) is a university-qualified expert who provides evidence-based medical nutrition therapy to manage health conditions, including Parkinson’s. An APD understands how nutrition affects the body and uses this knowledge when treating you. An APD holds the only nutrition credential recognised by Medicare, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, and many private health funds.

Note: while Nutritionists provide general dietary advice and promote healthy eating habits, an APD is the only Allied Health professional recognised by Medicare to provide medical nutrition therapy.

Why should I have a dietitian on my care team? 

  • Expert guidance: With their accredited training, APDs offer evidence-based advice, debunking nutrition myths and ensuring you get accurate information.
  • Support & education: An APD can provide practical and easy-to-follow advice and can help you stay informed about the latest research and best practices. An APD can also provide ongoing support to help navigate dietary challenges.
  • Personalised meal plans: Working with you, an APD can develop a personalised plan designed to help your specific needs with the goal of optimising your nutritional health and wellbeing.
  • Guidance on vitamin & mineral supplements:
    • An APD can advise on specific vitamin and mineral supplements you may require based on your individualised nutritional needs. In consultation with your GP, your APD may suggest having a blood test to evaluate nutrient levels.
    • An APD can also advise on supplement safety to avoid potential adverse health effects and possible interactions with your prescribed medications.
  • Support bone health: As people with Parkinson’s are at higher risk for osteoporosis, an APD can advise on key nutrients for bone health, including protein, calcium and vitamin D.
  • Guidance on dietary patterns: An APD can discuss and advise on the healthy dietary patterns with positive associations to Parkinson’s and tailor them to your specific needs. These dietary patterns tend to be high in unsaturated fats, antioxidants and fibre.
  • Medication management: An APD can provide individualised advice regarding your protein requirements. If appropriate, an APD can assist you in arranging mealtimes around levodopa times and the appropriate distribution of protein intake throughout the day.
  • Symptom management: An APD can provide individualised dietary strategies to help manage some of the non-motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s, including:
    • Gastrointestinal issues e.g. nausea, constipation, slow stomach emptying
    • Swallowing difficulties (dysphagia)
    • Decreased appetite
    • Weight changes e.g. unintentional weight loss, weight gain
    • Low blood pressure (Orthostatic Hypotension/ dizziness)

Key Statistics

  • Only 11–15 % of people with Parkinson’s have access to dietetic care.
  • Malnutrition may be present in up to 24 % of PwP, while 60 % remain at risk.
  • Only 5% of Australians meet the recommended daily fruit and vegetable intake, and dietitian-led interventions improve adherence to healthy eating guidelines.
  • Nutrition management is part of best practice care in Parkinson’s. A survey of dietitians in Australia and Canada found that nutrition diagnosis and intervention are routinely used to manage Parkinson’s symptoms such as dysphagia, constipation, and weight loss (Sheard, 2014).
  • Dietary patterns such as the Mediterranean diet may improve outcomes. A scoping review of whole‑diet approaches found evidence that Mediterranean and MIND diets are associated with slower progression of motor and non‑motor symptoms in Parkinson’s (Rees et al., 2024).
  • Clinical trials show nutrition interventions improve symptom control. A narrative review of 38 dietary clinical trials concluded that interventions such as protein redistribution diets, vitamin supplementation, and probiotics can improve motor fluctuations, gastrointestinal symptoms, and overall wellbeing in people living with Parkinson’s (Giannakis et al., 2025).
  • Nutrition and lifestyle interventions reduce complications and support long‑term care. A systematic narrative review highlighted that dietitians can help manage gut health, reduce constipation, and improve medication absorption, thereby reducing complications and enhancing quality of life (Lister, 2020).

What do dietitians do?

During a consultation with an APD, the following may occur:

  • A nutritional needs assessment.
  • Creation of a meal plan that accounts for your specific needs and medication schedule.
  • Nutrition counselling, which may include advice on diet, supplements if a blood test shows a need for them, potential of food and medication interactions, timing of meals, and dietary management of certain non-motor symptoms.

How do I access an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD)?

Explore available pathways to the support that best suits your individual needs. Consider the following when accessing APD services:

  • Speak with your GP about referral to an APD who has experience consulting people with Parkinson’s.
  • If you have a chronic health condition and a care plan from your GP (chronic condition management plan), you may be able to claim a Medicare rebate when you see an APD.
  • Your state-based Parkinson’s organisation may be able to advise on APDs to access.
  • If you have private health insurance, contact your insurer to check what is covered in relation to APD consultations.
  • NDIS participants may be able to access support for an APD consultation. To access this funding, individuals should consult with their support coordinator or plan manager.
  • A My Aged Care plan may cover the cost of an APD consultation. Check with your case manager about your specific My Aged Care

To find an Accredited Practising Dietitian near you, visit Dietitians Australia website.

Infosheet kindly reviewed by Amy Neill, APD and creator of Parkinson Diet

References:

Key facts:

Sheard, J. (2014). Current practice in nutrition diagnosis and intervention for the management of Parkinson’s disease in Australia and Canada. Nutrition & Dietetics, 71(2), 135–141. https://doi.org/10.1111/1747-0080.12118

Rees, J., Ryan, J., Laws, M., & Devine, A. (2024). A comprehensive examination of the evidence for whole of diet patterns in Parkinson’s disease: A scoping review. Nutritional Neuroscience, 27(6), 547–565. https://doi.org/10.1080/1028415X.2023.2233727

Giannakis, A., Chondrogiorgi, M., Konitsiotis, S., & Sidiropoulos, C. (2025). Nutritional and dietary clinical trials for Parkinson’s disease: A narrative review. Journal of Neural Transmission, 132(5), 519–536. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-025-02901-7

Lister, T. (2020). Nutrition and lifestyle interventions for managing Parkinson’s disease: A narrative review. Journal of Movement Disorders, 13(2), 97–104. https://doi.org/10.14802/jmd.20006

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