East Montgomery Times

The eating habits of pediatric patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) have been explored in a recent study led by Amanda B. Muir, MD, MTR. The study sought to shed light on the differences between these patients and their healthy counterparts.

The research involved 27 participants with EoE and 25 healthy children, all averaging 11 years old. The gender distribution was approximately 6:4, favoring males. Researchers observed eating behaviors across four food textures: puree, soft solid, chewable, and hard solid. Each participant was filmed to analyze the number of chews per bite, sips of fluid per food, and overall consumption time.

In EoE patients, eating behaviors showed notable differences, particularly in chewing and time taken to consume food. For soft solids, chewables, and hard solids, the number of chews per bite and consumption time were significantly higher in EoE patients compared to those without the condition. Specifically, EoE patients chewed soft solids 13.6 times compared to 9.1 times by controls. For chewables, the number of chews was 14.7 versus 10.7, and for hard solids, it was 19 versus 12.8. Similarly, consumption times for soft solids, chewables, and hard solids were 94.7 seconds, 90 seconds, and 114.1 seconds respectively for EoE patients, compared to 58.3 seconds, 65.1 seconds, and 76.4 seconds for healthy subjects.

The study also found a positive correlation between the total endoscopy reference score and both consumption time and the number of chews for chewable and hard solids. It showed that longer consumption times correlated with higher eosinophil counts and reduced esophageal distensibility, suggesting ongoing feeding issues linked to esophageal fibrosis and remodeling.

"This study underscores the alterations in eating behaviors among pediatric EoE patients, highlighting their ongoing issues despite histologic remission," explained Dr. Muir, who practices as a pediatric gastroenterologist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

The study, published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, contributes to understanding the physiological challenges faced by children with EoE, with a focus on the mechanical aspects observed through endoFLIP measurements.