Nutritional Status, nutrient intake and dietary practices of Brazilian children and adolescents with Infantile Neuroaxonal Dystrophy (INAD)

The objective fo the study was to delineate the nutritional profile, dietary intake, and feeding characteristics among orally
and tube-fed Brazilian patients with INAD. This is a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted between July 2023 and March 2024. Data were collected through a semi- structured electronic form and phone interviews. Food intake was assessed by three 24-hour
food recalls applied via phone and video calls. Reported body weight and height were used to determine BMI (body mass index). Nutritional status was assessed using weight-for-age (WAZ), height-for-age (HAZ), and BMI-for-age Z-scores (BMIAZ) from WHO child growth standards. The study enrolled 21 participants. Twelve of them (57%) had a gastrostomy for feeding. Considering the 9 participants exclusively orally fed, 66.7% needed modification in food texture, and 88.9% presented at least one sign of dysphagia, most commonly choking and coughing when eating. There was a trend toward a lower median weight-for-age Z-score in oral-fed participants compared to those fed by gastrostomy (-2.10 versus -0.34 respectively, p=0.072). Micronutrient intake, including vitamins A, D, E, folic acid, and B12, was lower in the oral-fed group.