University of Toronto researcher wins clinical nutrition award

Marialena Mouzaki, MD, MSc, an assistant professor at University of Toronto and a staff gastroenterologist at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children, has been named the Best International Abstract Awardee by the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral (A.S.P.E.N.). The award is for her research on pediatric end-stage liver disease that she will present at A.S.P.E.N.'s Clinical Nutrition Week scientific conference in Long Beach, California, February 14 to 17.

Dr. Mouzaki and her colleagues examined how accurately predictive equations estimate the energy requirements of patients with pediatric end-stage liver disease.

Malnutrition is common among children with end-stage liver disease and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Although increased resting energy expenditure (REE) may be an important contributing factor to malnutrition, daily calorie provision to infants and young children with cirrhosis is typically based on estimates of REE from predictive equations, instead of actual measurements. However, the accuracy of those equations has not been examined in children with end-stage liver disease.

Dr. Mouzaki and her colleagues reviewed the medical charts of children listed for liver transplantation between June 2013 and July 2014. They found that equations to predict REE are inaccurate in children listed for liver transplantation. Indirect calorimetry should be used, whenever possible, to accurately measure REE and to ensure proper nutritional provision in this setting.

"Advancing the science and practice of clinical nutrition and metabolism is a global effort, and we are pleased to recognize and support Dr. Mouzaki's important work," said Debra Ben Avram, CEO of A.S.P.E.N.

Provided by American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (A.S.P.E.N.)