Prader-Willi Syndrome and the Use of Medical Nutrition Therapy

Title: Integrating Consistent Individualized Carbohydrate-Controlled Anti- Inflammatory Nutritional Plan (C-ICAN) in the Management of Prader-Willi Syndrome: A Case Report. Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic disorder caused by a loss of function of specific genes on chromosome 15. Patients with this disease present unique challenges in management, particularly regarding obesity and nutritional regulation as the disease symptoms change depending on the age of the patient and the phase of the disease. These challenges pose critical stressors to caregivers and their families. We present a case report of a 5-year-old Caucasian male diagnosed with PWS, exhibiting failure to thrive and uncontrolled weight gain. His caregiver was his elderly grandmother who, by her own admission, was ill-equipped to deal with the patient’s physical symptoms and his behavior in response to dietary restrictions. Through a multidisciplinary approach involving medical nutrition therapy (MNT) involving the implementation of a Consistent Individualized Carbohydrate-Controlled Anti-Inflammatory Nutritional plan (C-ICAN), growth hormone supplementation, and behavioral interventions patient markedly improved physically and emotionally.