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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
As disease-modifying therapies transform outcomes for kids with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), nutrition care is evolving too. Children who once couldn't move or eat independently are now walking and eating by mouth — shifting the dietary focus from comfort to optimizing strength and growth. But key questions remain about ideal body composition targets for early-treated patients.
The arrival of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) has been nothing short of transformative. Children who once faced a life of mechanical ventilation and total tube dependence are now walking, breathing independently, and eating by mouth. With newborn screening now catching SMA early, presymptomatic treatment is becoming the norm — and that's changing everything, including how dietitians approach nutritional care.
Stacey Tarrant, RD, LDN, a dietitian at Boston Children's Hospital's SMA clinic with 18 years of experience, explains that nutrition goals have shifted from managing comfort and gastrointestinal symptoms to actively supporting muscle gain, strength, and functional development. Because patients with SMA tend to have lower calorie needs, the quality of those calories matters enormously — nutrient-dense, minimally processed foods are prioritized. For patients who still require tube feeding, real-food blended formulas are recommended to support gut health.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: As SMA outcomes improve dramatically, the field needs stronger evidence to define optimal growth and body composition targets — giving clinicians and families clearer, evidence-based nutrition goals to maximize the full benefits of treatment.
