Nutritional Intervention for a Korean Adolescent with Atopic Dermatitis: a Case Report

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Nutrition Science
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent inflammatory skin condition affecting all age groups.
• Dietary restrictions by patients and parents, driven by misconceptions, can lead to nutrient deficiencies in AD management.
• Nutritional counseling is explored as an intervention to improve dietary habits and AD outcomes.

Observation:

• A 15-year-old male patient with AD, previously without nutritional guidance, participated in a nutritional counseling program.
• The patient significantly increased consumption of fruits, beans, vegetables, and milk post-counseling.
• Vegetable intake escalated from under one plate daily to over eight plates daily.

Findings:

• Post-counseling, the patient's nutritional quotient for adolescents (NQ-A) score increased 1.2-fold, with diversity and balance scores rising 2.4- and 1.5-fold, respectively.
• Inadequate intake of essential nutrients including protein, fiber, vitamins A, D, K, C, niacin, and minerals like calcium, potassium, and magnesium improved significantly.
• Improvements in eating habits and a reduction in AD severity were observed following nutritional intervention.

Implications:

• Nutritional counseling can positively impact eating habits and nutrient intake in adolescents with AD.
• Dietary improvements may contribute to the management of atopic dermatitis severity.
• Further controlled research is necessary to establish a definitive causal link between dietary changes and AD severity.