The Dietitians Group was formed in 1999 as a sub-group of the BIMDG. The objective was to unite and form a network of dietitians working in the field of inherited metabolic disease.

A committee was formed in October 2002.

The main aims of the group are to:

• review and develop current dietary treatments for inherited metabolic diseases
• to produce guidelines/resources/publications where appropriate
• be a resource for dietetic colleagues involved with the dietary management of children/adults with inherited metabolic disease

Membership of the group is open to any practicing clinical dietitian working in inherited metabolic disease. The dietitian must be a member of the BIMDG (see ‘Further information’ section for details). Currently the group has 33 members. To become a member contact the group secretary via the ‘contact page’ on this site.

• The group meets biannually. Meetings are usually in a workshop format to facilitate discussion.
   
• A group e-mail is used for liaison.

• MSUD, June 1999 – the group addressed how to incorporate manufactured foods into the MSUD diet. These are now included and have greatly expanded the food choice for MSUD patients. Led by Marjorie Dixon, Specialist Dietitian, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London.
   
• Homocystinura, October 2001 - a round table review of personal experience with management of homocystinuria followed by detailed discussion of dietary management, biochemical monitoring and the evidence for cystine supplementation.Led by Fiona White, Chief Metabolic dietitian, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Manchester.
   
• GSD III, October 2002 - high protein versus high CHO diet was debated. Marjorie Dixon presented this at the SHS Inborn Errors Meeting, Friday 7th March 2003, London (see abstract book). Led by Marjorie Dixon, Specialist Dietitian, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London.
   
• Familial Hypercholesterolaemia, June 2003. Led by Tricia Rutherford, Chief Dietitian, Royal Liverpool Children’s NHS Trust, Liverpool.
   
• Soya and Phytoestrogens in Galactosaemia, October 2003. Conclusions – with the current state of knowledge soya infant formula remains the best choice of baby milk for infants with Galactosaemia. This needs to be continually reviewed as more scientific evidence becomes available.
   
• Dietary guidelines for the “UK Collaborative Study of Newborn Screening Medium chain acyl CoA dehydrogenase deficiency”, June 2004. These guidelines will become available in Spring 2005. Led by Marjorie Dixon, Specialist Dietitian, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London.
   
• Navigating your way through ethics and dietetic research, January 2005. Led by Joanna Eardley, Specialist Dietitian, Guy’s Hospital, London.
   
• Tyrosine Supplementation in maternal PKU, January 2005. Led by Paula Hallam, Specialist Dietitian, National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, London.
   
• Emergency Regimens, May 2005. Led by Fiona White, Chief Metabolic Dietitian, Royal Manchester Children ’s, Hospital, Manchester.

To become a member of BIMDG contact the BIMDG membership secretary - Anny Brown email: ann.brown @ nbt.nhs.uk

For further information on BIMDG dietitians group, please contact the group secretary.

Secretary (contact for membership details)

Helena Champion
Metabolic Dietitian
Nutrition & Dietetic Department
Box 119
Addenbrookes NHS Trust
Hills Road
Cambridge
CB2 2OO

Tel: 01223 216655
E-mail: helena.champion @ addenbrookes.nhs.uk

Contact BIMDG