His Excellency Colonel Eng. Khalid Mohammad Bakalka, Executive Director of Operations, NGHA, Western Region, launched the
Medical Nutrition Therapy Symposium for Inborn Errors of Metabolism, which was organized by
King Abdulaziz Medical City - Jeddah and represented by the Clinical Nutrition Department to promote the concept of genetic diseases and Inborn Error of Metabolism.
Eng. Bakalka explained that nutrition is necessary for human life and growth and it should contain diverse, appropriate amounts from each food group in order to avoid certain health problems such as heart diseases and diabetes etc.
Moreover, the symposium aims to promote the concept of genetic diseases and to help the participants in understand theoretical background and practical approaches with medical and nutritional applications in IEMS as well as to shed the light on recent nutrition studies about the use of supplements to treat metabolic diseases. Inborn errors of metabolism are divided into several categories such as disorders of carbohydrate metabolism, Disorders of amino acid metabolism and Disorders of fatty acid oxidation.
In addition, Mr. Mohammed Al Zagli, Chief of Clinical Nutrition Department noted that genetic metabolic diseases are difficult to treat because it is a genetic defect that affects the cell system and thus the body. The treatment method depends on nutrition; as the issue is related to the absorption of food, the metabolic process and then the conversion of substances needed. However, in cases of Inborn Error of Metabolism, the body can not perform all those vital phases due to for example, the lack of specific enzyme leads to accumulation unconverted substances which are toxic and can seriously impact the body.
He also explained that the symposium covered many of the topics that have been selected meticulously, including: Newborn Screening Program (NBS), medical and nutrition therapy for Urea Cycle Defects, Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD), Phenylketonuria (PKU).
Moreover, Mr. Mohammed stressed the importance of following the recommended diet given by the dietician, as the patient will be given a special diet since birth that will contain specific amounts of the substance that the body can’t breakdown whether proteins, carbohydrate or fats. This will also require the baby to take special formulas to prevent the accumulation of toxic substances in the body.
