Objective To investigate the dietary nutrient intake and the nutritional status of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), and to explore the correlation between them, so as to provide theoretical basis for the formulation of proper nutritional treatment for children with DMD.
Methods A total of 223 children aged 2 to 14 years who came to West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University from July 2017 to April 2021, and who were diagnosed with DMD by genetic testing were enrolled as the subjects of the study. Dietary assessment was conducted with a 3-day 24-hour dietary recall, and serum vitamin D level was measured by chemiluminescence method.
Results Only 33.2% of the children with DMD were found to be of normal nutritional status. The incidences of stunted growth, underweight, overweight and obesity were 13.5%, 14.4%, 14.3% and 8.1%, respectively. Among the children with DMD, those with serum vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency accounted for 9.0% and 89.7%, respectively. According to the dietary recall of the children with MDM, the daily energy ratio of carbohydrate, protein and fat were (47.40±6.64)%, (14.46±2.22)%, and (38.17±5.30)%, respectively. The daily intake of dietary calcium and vitamin D were (433.32±164.39) mg per day and (155.73±89.30) IU per day, respectively. The ratio of daily protein intake to the estimated average requirement for protein (P=0.003) and ratio of daily energy intake to the estimated energy requirement (P=0.007) were lower in children with stunted growth than those of DMD children of normal nutritional status.
Conclusion The dietary structure of children with DMD is obviously not suited to their condition and nutritional deficiency coexists with overnutrition among them. Further research needs to be done for developing appropriate nutritional guidance programs and standardized nutritional management measures for children with DMD.
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