Nutritional status in eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders: A pediatric case-control study

Eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGIDs) represent an emerging group of heterogeneous diseases associated with failure to thrive, weight loss, protein-losing enteropathy, and malnutrition. To date, no studies have assessed the nutritional status, vitamin D, and other vitamin levels in patients with non-esophageal EGIDs. We aim to evaluate the nutritional profile of a cohort of children and adolescents with EGIDs. We performed a case-control study, enrolling a total of 98 patients, 38 (39%) patients with EoE, 22 (22%) patients with non-esophageal EGIDs, and 38 (39%) patients with non-allergic controls. Children with EGIDs had both mean ferritin and mean hemoglobin levels, together with other values such as folates and vitamin B12, within normal range and therefore did not have anemia. Albumin and prealbumin levels were within normal limits. Patients with EGIDs have mean vitamin D values slightly higher than non-allergic controls. Although this study is retrospective and referred to only one pediatric center, we found that Italian children and adolescents with EGIDs are neither malnourished nor deficient in vitamin D compared with controls.