Validation of a questionnaire to assess eating disorders in inherited metabolic disease patients requiring dietary treatment

Investigador: Inês Curvelo Mendes 
Instituição: Hospital Divino Espírito Santo EPER., Ponta Delgada, São Miguel, Azores, Portugal

Abstract
Diet-therapy represents an elective approach to the treatment of several inherited metabolic diseases (IMD). Studies suggest that living with chronic diseases which are treated with dietary management may adversely affect eating attitudes and behaviors and may increase susceptibility to the development of eating disturbances, and subsequently nutritional unbalances. Eating disorders (ED) are a group of psychopathological disorders that affect the patient's relationship with food and his own body and that are manifested mainly in adolescence and in young-adult age. The identification of eating-related problems is important because deviations in dietary adherence are associated with worst outcomes, for most IMD patients.
Morgan et al., developed and tested a tool for detecting ED in community settings— SCOFF questionnaire. Several other questionnaires are available for screening ED in community settings and some have been applied to patients in hospital settings. In the clinical practice, health professionals feel the need to screen for this ED in specific patients, who have higher risk for ED, especially those patients who have to follow strict dietary treatments. An example of this is the IMD patients. To our knowledge, in Portugal there is not available a validated questionnaire to screen for ED in IMD patients. This project aims to translate the SCOFF questionnaire for the Portuguese language, including cultural adaptation, and validation in IMD patients that require dietary management.
In the first phase of the project, we intend to proceed with the Portuguese translation and cultural adaptation of the SCOFF questionnaire, following the recommended steps by the World Health Organization: “Process of translation and adaptation of instruments”. The final version of the questionnaire will be applied to approximately 30 IMD patients that require dietary treatment and attend to the nutrition appointment in the Reference Center of Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto and in the Treatment Centers of Hospital Divino Espírito Santo and Hospital de Santo Espírito da Ilha Terceira, in Azores. In the second phase, we intend to proceed with the statistical validation of the questionnaire. This protocol will be presented to the Ethic Committee of Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Hospital Divino Espírito Santo and Hospital de Santo Espírito da Ilha Terceira.
We expect that this instrument could be validated for this specific group of patients that globally have high risk of developing eating disorders. This tool can identify ED early and allow a rapid initiation of treatment, which will improve the prognosis of IMD patients. It is also expected that, subsequently in the future, this tool could be used to others IMD patients at the Portuguese Reference/Treatment Centers.

Diet quality and saproterin dihydrochloride (BH4) use in children with phenylketonuria (PKU)

Investigador: Maria Inês Gama
Instituição: Nutrition & Metabolism, NOVA Medical School, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

Abstract

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a rare metabolic disorder. Mutations in the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH), impair phenylalanine (Phe) metabolism into tyrosine, and a Phe build up in the brain causes neurological deterioration and consequently brain damage and developmental delay, if treatment is not initiated early. Treatment consists of a low protein diet restricted in the amino acid Phe. Diet is based on low protein foods, usually fruits and vegetables, together with a protein substitute to secure protein needs and special low protein foods to attain energy requirements. Sapropterin dihydrochloride (BH4), is a synthetic form of the co-factor tetrahydrobiopterin, necessary for the PAH activity. Patients who respond to the drug can increase Phe tolerance, leading to diet relaxation and consequently more natural protein introduction in the diet, and/or can improve metabolic control of patients. However, reports of patients’ food patterns in PKU are scarce, with existing ones reporting increase intake of known familiar foods and neophobia to new protein sourced foods. This could lead to nutritional imbalances, particularly in micronutrient status. A retrospective observational longitudinal study will be performed in a cohort of paediatric (0-17 years) PKU patients followed at the BCH, and their caregivers. Data from patients records (age, gender, diagnosis, weight, height, BMI, metabolic control) food frequency and food neophobia questionnaires will be collected. From caregivers an anxiety and depression questionnaire will be applied. We expect these results to be of extreme importance to characterize food patterns and food choices in children treated with BH4 treatment as well as their caregivers’ burden.

Bone health and micronutrients status evaluation in phenylalanine dietary restricted patients

Investigador: Sandra Mexia
Instituição: Metabolic Unit, Reference Center for Metabolic Diseases, CHULN-HSM, Lisbon, Portugal

Abstract

Phenylketonuria (PKU) dietary management involving protein restriction remains an effective treatment of the disease preventing neurocognitive compromise. The goal is to limit the accumulation of toxic amounts of phenylalanine (Phe), an essential amino acid. A combination of natural protein and Phe-free, tyrosine rich formulas are needed to provide adequate amounts of tyrosine for growth and neurotransmitter synthesis, with just enough Phe for anabolism. Although, long term protein restricted diets can lead to suboptimal bonne health outcomes, potentially leading to growth failure and fractures.
Authors intend to perform a retrospective study to evaluate the bonne health of PKU patients followed at Lisbon Reference Center for Inborn Errors of Metabolism, CHULN, concerning bonne mineralization and fracture risk.
The clinical charts of all PKU patients summitted to dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) evaluation will be reviewed regarding:
1. Mineral bonne density by DEXA, according to patient´s age and gender;
2. Demographic data regarding gender, age, puberty status, dietary compliance, type, duration and frequency of exercise and fracture occurrence;
3. Energy, protein (natural and synthetic), calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and vitamin D daily intake in the patient´s diet and pharmacological supplementation, previous to DEXA evaluation;
4. Plasma biochemical evaluation of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, alkaline phosphatase, vitamin D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), median Phe levels and urinary calcium excretion, previous to DEXA evaluation;
5. Anthropometric data (weight, height and body mass index), according to World Health Organization (WHO) percentiles and z-scores to gender and age, at the time of DEXA evaluation;
6. Calcium content of amino acid mixtures, glycomacropeptide (GMP) intake and Kuvan supplementation will also be addressed.

There is no animal testing.

Does phenylalanine restricted diet impacts microbiota in patients with phenylketonuria?

Investigador: Catarina Isabel dos Santos Rodrigues.
Instituição: Nutrition and Metabolism, NOVA Medical School | Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal. CINTESIS - Center for Health Technology and Services Research, Porto, Portugal.

ABSTRACT: Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a rare autosomal recessive inborn error of phenylalanine (Phe) metabolism due to a deficiency of the hepatic-based enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase. Dietary treatment is the cornerstone of therapy and its goal is to prevent excessive Phe accumulation in the blood.

The gut microbiota plays a major role in the maintenance of the host health, including intestinal health and function. It is influenced by several factors, including dietary pattern, antibiotic exposure, mode of delivery of a neonate, among others. However, dietary pattern is one of the most important, as it strongly influences the composition of gut microbiota. This may be particularly relevant in PKU patients, since their special Phe- restricted diet begins in the neonatal period and is maintained throughout life, possibly modifying gut microbiota composition and affecting gut homeostasis.

This study aims to i) characterize the gut microbiota of adult PKU patients; ii) compare gut microbiota of adult PKU patients with healthy adult population; and iii) understand the role of the Phe-restricted diet as a potential inducer of gut dysbiosis.

This will be an observational, cross-sectional study. A total of 24 participants will be recruited from the National Reference Centre in Hereditary Metabolic Disorders, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Norte. Anthropometric data of the population will be collected, and body composition will be assessed by bioimpedance, after overnight fasting. Faecal samples will be collected, as well as food records from the three days prior to faecal sample collection. Data from medical records will also be collected, including prescribed protein substitutes, natural and total daily protein intakes, median blood Phe concentrations in the previous year preceding the study, and clinical relevant data.

Saiba mais

Melhoramento das novas tabelas de composição do teor e dos aminoácidos a utilizar como ferramenta para o tratamento das doenças hereditárias do metabolismo proteico

Investigador:  Carla Vasconcelos
Instituição:  Unidade de Nutrição e Dietética do Centro Hospitalar São João. Centro de Referência de Doenças Metabólicas do Centro Hospitalar Universitário São João

As Doenças Hereditárias do Metabolismo (DHM) são patogênicas raras de natureza genética em que uma metabolização pode ser destruída. A proteína é uma proteína enzimática, que é uma variável via metabólica, tendo uma acumulação de compostos (muitas vezes tóxicos) e uma produção diminuída ou um produto biológico importante (Scriver et al., 2001). A deficiência enzimática é devida a uma mutação numérica de vários genes codificantes para o passo metabólico em causa. Como aminoácidos e ácidos orgânicos, tais como aminoácidos e sob o ponto de vista fisiológico são incluídos no grupo de intoxicação por doenças, ou seja, doenças que causam sintomas de intoxicação aguda e progressiva, por acumulação de metabolismo tóxico ao aumento do bloqueio enzimático.
Saiba mais

The effect of the nitrogen source on metabolism in Phenylketonuria

Investigador: Maria João Pena, PhD Student, FMUPorto  
Instituição: Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto

Since Phenylketonuria’s (PKU) treatment introduction in 1950’s by Dr. Horst Bickel, many advances were made. In fact, one of the major contributions to PKU was the implementation of a phenylalanine (Phe)-restricted diet, remaining the cornerstone of treatment. The Phe-restricted diet consists of natural protein supplemented with protein substitutes (PS). Phe-free amino acid mixtures (AAM) are still the most common PS used to treat patients with PKU, despite the recent emergence of glycomacropeptide-based PS (GMP). GMP is an intact protein derived from cheese making process. There may be metabolic discrepancies between AAM and GMP, particularly at gycidic metabolism level. Several mechanisms can explain these differences, such as, the incretins release and the gut microbiota. Nevertheless, the scientific evidence is still scarce. This project comprises animal and clinical studies.
The main objective of the present research is to understand the effect of different nitrogen sources used for the treatment of PKU on metabolism.

Saiba mais

Challenges in long-term management of MSUD: a prospective study by assessment of clinical, Biochamical and Anthropometric Parameters

Investigador: Sandra Mexia
Instituição: Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Norte, Hospital de Santa Maria

Maple syrup utine disease (MSUD - OMIM # 24860) is a rare unherited sidorder of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) - leucine (Leu), isoleucine (lLe) and valine (Val), displaying an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance, and caused by deficiency of branched-chain aketo acid dehydrogenase, the enzymatic complex responsible for the breaking down of byproducts of the BCAAs transmination reactioin, the corresponding branched-chain a-keto-acids (BCKA).
The disruption of this metabolic pathway results in the accumulation of BCAAs and BCKA in cells and fluis of the body, which present neurotoxic, especially Leu and the corresponding a-keto-acid, the a-keto-isocaproic acid (KIC). To avoid life-threatening complications, treatment must promptly be strated. MSUD's treatment, primarily nutritional, is based on manipulation of a restricted natural protein diet with reduced BCAAs content and supplementation eith synthetic formulas for the supplying of essential amino acids and micronutrients, pivotal for ensuring normal grosth and psychomotor development of effected children.

Saiba mais

Estado de micronutrientes e ingestão de misturas de aminoácidos isentas de fenilalanina, em doentes fenilcetonúricos 

Investigador: Paula Cristina Ramos
Instituição: Centro de Genética Médica, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Porto

Consulte Grelha de Avaliação

Investigador: Carla Vasconcelos
Instituição: Unidade de Doenças Metabólicas do Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto

Uma das importantes fontes proteicas dos planos alimentares dos doentes com Doenças Hereditárias do Metabolismo Proteico são os produtos hortícolas e as leguminosas. Este estudo procura atualizar os dados referentes às alterações no mercado alimentar português e, simultaneamente, sistematizar essa informação em bases de dados ou tabelas de composição, possibilitando aos doentes uma melhor escolha, em prol da sua saúde.

Saiba mais

Investigador: Maria João Pena
Instituição: FMUP – Porto

Neste estudo procura-se estabelecer relação entre a dieta particular utilizada nos doentes com PKU e alguns parâmetros metabólicos, ainda não estudados nesta patologia. Em particular, pretende-se determinar se a mistura de aminoácidos livre de fenilalanina é responsável pela diminuicão dos níveis plasmaticos de glicose em ratos.

Saiba mais