Relationship of Filipino MSUD Children’s Nutrient Intake, Nutritional Status, and Leucine Level, and Caregiver's Nutrition Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices

Abstract

Background and Objectives. Diet compliance is critical in managing Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) to prevent physiological and neurological damage. However, there is a lack of studies looking at factors critical to diet compliance. This study determined the caregivers’ nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and feeding practices (KAP); and its relationship to Filipino MSUD children’s leucine level, nutritional status, and nutrient intake.

Methods. A cross-sectional, sequential explanatory research approach using survey was utilized. Data tools were questionnaires and food records. 

Results. The participants were 20 caregivers and 21 MSUD children (aged 6 to 83 months). Caregivers had moderately high feeding practices and knowledge scores and had positive attitudes towards providing adequate nutritional care; still, they were struggling with diet compliance. 

Their nutrition knowledge was related to their attitude (p-value: 0.021), feeding practices (p-value: 0.037), and their children’s weight-for-age (p-value: 0.036). Furthermore, knowledge and feeding practices were related to the children’s natural-protein status (p-value: 0.043 and 0.006, respectively). The caregivers’ sex was related to the children’s leucine (p-value=0.010), those with female caregivers had lower leucine by 470 μmol/L on average. Moreover, children with good leucine control belonged to higher-income households (p-value=0.049).

Conclusion. With caregiver's nutrition knowledge having been possibly associated with the children’s weight-forage, and their knowledge and feeding practices with the children's natural protein status, as well as knowledge positively affecting both attitude and feeding practice, interventions for improving all caregivers’ nutrition knowledge and feeding practices are recommended. Additionally, with caregivers’ sex and income having been found to be related to metabolic control, it is suggested that strategies to better manage these barriers be carried out. These may include improving support for male caregivers, with children under their care having higher leucine than those cared for by their female counterparts. Added provisions may likewise be planned for further reducing the impact of income-related barriers.