Gastrointestinal Response of Pediatric Cystic Fibrosis Patients on Mediterranean Diet
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
20 participants
Feb 1, 2026
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
There is no study to date that has evaluated the impact or effect of a Mediterranean diet in children with CF. The goal of this study would be to help provide better guidance around questions the investigators, as CF care providers continue to receive from patients and families about how to best promote overall health in pediatric cystic fibrosis from a dietary perspective. Currently, the updated nutritional recommendations are variable and broad. Parents continue to search for more concrete guidance about how best to promote long-term health given the ever-increasing life expectancy of cystic fibrosis patients in this new area of advanced therapeutics. Given the changing landscape of the CF care in general, children are less likely to struggle with early life malnutrition, and it is becoming increasingly clear that high fat, high calorie diets are not beneficial nor are necessary for all children with CF.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria8
- Male and female pediatric patient with cystic fibrosis age 3 and older
- Nutritional status defined as a BMI Z-score of at least -1 or above
- Confirm diagnosis of CF defined by 2 CF causing mutations on genetic testing or sweat chloride greater than 60 mEq/L
- Children with pancreatic insufficient CF and on PERT
- Children with pancreatic sufficient CF not on PERT
- Child must be on a full, solids based diet
- Family willing to child adhere to an exclusive Mediterranean style diet for a period of 6 months
- Child must be able to follow-up at regular CF clinic visits and attend any additional study visits if necessary
Exclusion Criteria7
- Children with malnutrition
- Children who require nutritional supplementation via any type of feeding tube
- Children with poorly controlled CF lung disease
- Children with advanced CF liver disease
- Children with a comorbid gastrointestinal disease such as celiac disease, Crohn's disease or other malabsorptive process to be reviewed by PI
- Children with significant food allergies or other gastrointestinal allergy
- Family is unwilling to adhere to prescribed dietary intervention
Interested in this trial?
Get notified about updates and connect with the research team.
Interventions
Patients enrolled in this study will follow a Mediterranean diet for a 6 month period.
Locations(2)
View Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov
For the most up-to-date information, visit the official listing.
NCT07223255