Assessment of Nutritional Needs in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Rup Tandan, MD
University of Vermont

Goal:
Examine caloric requirements to identify caloric deficiency early in the course and plan for nutritional interventions and predict the need for gastrostomy by objective nutritional criteria vs. dysphasia

Aims:
Estimate daily caloric intake and expenditure and compare with control group. Measure daily caloric intake and expenditure over 12 months to examine the effects of progressively increasing disease in severity and changes in the body composition and physical activity level on caloric requirements.