rarerelated tag: Nutritional Manifestations

An adolescent male with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) receiving tube feeding and antibiotics developed a problem with blood clotting due to a deficiency in vitamin K, a case study reported. “This case highlights that nutritional vitamin K deficiency should be considered in complex chronic pediatric patients whose nutritional needs may not be met on a home blenderized tube feeding, especially after a course of antibiotics,” the investigators wrote. Moreover, for patients on blenderized tube feedings, “it is important to have a nutritional assessment of … dietary intake,” the team wrote.

The study, “Vitamin K Deficiency in the Setting of Blenderized Tube Feeding Regimen in a Teenager: A Case Report,” was published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements. Spinal muscular atrophy is a rare inherited genetic condition characterized by progressive muscle weakness and atrophy (shrinkage) that mainly affects body movements. It also, however, can impact speaking, breathing, and swallowing.