Metabolic Therapy

Treatment & Condition Management

Therapy for IEMs is principally through dietary management.  An amino acid, a specific fat, or a specific carbohydrate is usually limited, but not eliminated, through the evaluation and guidance of the metabolic dietitian.  The metabolic dietitian’s expertise and experience leads to a dietary prescription supporting normal growth and development while limiting the specific food component of the diet that leads to an accumulation of an illness causing compound.  Usually a small amount of the specific food component is necessary for normal growth and function, but a normal amount causes illness.  For many IEMs a specific dietary formula is prescribed to assist in supporting normal growth and development.  Management is through periodic clinic appointments with the Metabolic SCC team (metabolic dietitian, nurse, social worker, and physician) and telemedicine between a member of the team and the patient or family.

The metabolic dietitian at the Metabolic SCC at Miller Children’s will coordinate with the family’s local health care providers to assist the patient in following dietary guidelines and prescriptions.  The metabolic dietician assists the child’s school district to prepare appropriate foods for the school lunch as required under federal law for each child with a disability.  Periodic cooking classes with an emphasis on preparing low-protein foods are offered to enable the family and patients to more effectively manage their disorder.