This weekend, the World Muscle Society Congress 2018 was held in Argentina. The WMS is an annual congress on neuromuscular disorders, attended by established and young physicians, researchers, therapists and neuropathologists from all over the world.

During the congress, Ingrid Verhaart received an Elsevier WMS Membership Award for her presentation named ‘The Importance of Nutrition in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy’. She worked with this together with Lenie van de Engel-Hoek, Marta L. Fiorotto, Mirjam Franken-Verbeek, and Elizabeth Vroom.

Abstract:
The absence of dystrophin in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy also has effects on metabolism and the gastrointestinal system, resulting in nutritional issues, which contribute to the pathology. This is often neglected, and has not been well-studied, even though it can have a major impact on the quality of life. Therefore, a dietician should be part of the routine care team.

During a recent workshop focused on nutrition in DMD, experts in the field agreed there should be more well-designed studies on the metabolic aspects of the disease. Furthermore, it was decided to make clear and accessible guidelines for patients and their families. It is very important that these are easily implementable in daily life. In addition, they should be warned to be careful with over-the-counter supplements and should always discuss this with their doctor.