The contribution of diet preference to the disease course in children with familial Mediterranean fever: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is characterized by recurrent, self-limiting attacks of fever and serositis. Nutrition is very important in the management of chronic diseases. Previous studies suggested that salty and fatty diet cause inflammation, therefore we aimed to investigate the effects of dietary self-efficacy and behavior about low-salt or low-fat diet on disease course in children with FMF. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included patients aged between 10–18 years, diagnosed in our department and admitted between June 2019 and September 2019. Demographic and clinical properties were obtained from the medical files of the patients. Children’s Dietary Self-Efficacy Scale (CDSS) and Health Behavior Questionnaire (HBQ) – Diet Behavior Scale (DBS) were performed for dietary self-efficacy and behavior about preferring low-salt or low-fat diet. Clinical features were compared between patients, which were grouped according to the sum of these two scales, with a cut-off score of 5. RESULTS: The mean age of 74 FMF patients (44 females, 34 males), included in the study, was 14.6 ±2.82 years. Median CDSS and DBS scores of the patients were 5 (minimum –6, maximum 14) and 0 (minimum –10, maximum 12), respectively. According to the sum of these two scales, 39 (52.7%) patients who had scored at least 5, had a statistically higher rate of complete response to colchicine. The remaining clinical parameters were similar between these two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Low-salt or low-fat diet may be an adjuvant modification in the management of children with FMF. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of low-salt or low-fat diet in FMF pathogenesis.