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. 2025 Jan;66(1):e1-e6.
doi: 10.1111/epi.18179. Epub 2024 Nov 6.

Eating habits and behaviors in children with Dravet syndrome: A case-control study

Alexandra Laliberté  1 , Lyna Siafa  1 , Arij Soufi  1 , Christelle Dassi  2 , Sophie J Russ-Hall  3 , Ingrid E Scheffer  3   4   5   6 , Kenneth A Myers  2   7   8
Affiliations

Eating habits and behaviors in children with Dravet syndrome: A case-control study

Alexandra Laliberté et al. Epilepsia. 2025 Jan.

Abstract

This study evaluated food preferences and eating behaviors of individuals with Dravet syndrome. Patients diagnosed with Dravet syndrome were recruited, as well as a control group composed of siblings of patients with epilepsy (any form). The Food Preference Questionnaire and the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire were completed by caregivers along with two open-ended questions regarding eating challenges. Seventy-eight participants (45 with Dravet syndrome and 33 controls) were included. Compared to controls, mean scores for food preference were lower for fruits (p = .000099), meats and fish (p = .00094), and snacks (p = .000027) in Dravet syndrome. People with Dravet syndrome also had less emotional overeating (p = .0085) and food enjoyment (p = .0012), but more slowness in eating (p = .00021) and food fussiness (p = .0064). In a subgroup analysis of only pediatric (age <18 years) patients, similar results were observed for both food preferences and eating habits. In qualitative data, caregivers most commonly reported difficulties with fixation on specific foods. This study demonstrates specific food preferences and challenging eating behaviors in individuals with Dravet syndrome. These data provide potential avenues for nutritional interventions and behavioral therapies to increase the quality of life of patients and their families.

Keywords: Dravet syndrome; anorexia; dysphagia; eating; feeding; gastrostomy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Myers has received research funding support from Dravet Canada and is on an advisory board for Jazz Pharmaceuticals. Prof. Scheffer has served on scientific advisory boards for BioMarin, Chiesi, Eisai, Encoded Therapeutics, GlaxoSmithKline, Knopp Biosciences, Nutricia, Rogcon, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, UCB, Xenon Pharmaceuticals, Cerecin, and Longboard Pharmaceuticals; has received speaker honoraria from GlaxoSmithKline, UCB, BioMarin, Biocodex, Chiesi, Liva Nova, Nutricia, Zuellig Pharma, Stoke Therapeutics, Eisai, and Akumentis; has received funding for travel from UCB, Biocodex, GlaxoSmithKline, Biomarin, Encoded Therapeutics, Stoke Therapeutics, and Eisai; has served as an investigator for Anavex Life Sciences, Cerevel Therapeutics, Eisai, Encoded Therapeutics, EpiMinder Inc., Epygenyx, ES‐Therapeutics, GW Pharma, Marinus, Neurocrine BioSciences, Ovid Therapeutics, SK Life Science, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, UCB, Ultragenyx, Xenon Pharmaceuticals, Zogenix, and Zynerba; has consulted for Care Beyond Diagnosis, Epilepsy Consortium, Atheneum Partners, Ovid Therapeutics, UCB, Zynerba Pharmaceuticals, BioMarin, Encoded Therapeutics, and Biohaven Pharmaceuticals; and is a Non‐Executive Director of Bellberry Ltd. and a Director of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and the Royal Society (Australia). She may accrue future revenue on pending patent WO61/010176 (filed: 2008): Therapeutic Compound; has a patent for SCN1A testing held by Bionomics Inc. and licensed to various diagnostic companies; and has a patent molecular diagnostic/theragnostic target for benign familial infantile epilepsy (BFIE) [PRRT2] 2011904493 and 2 012 900 190 and PCT/AU2012/001321 (TECH ID:2012–009). The remaining authors have no conflicts of interest.

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