Consumption of processed and ultra- processed foods in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder

Introduction: Neuromyelitis Optic Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD) is an inflammatory and autoimmune disease of the Central Nervous System (CNS) that affects the optic nerve and spinal cord. Objective: To evaluate the nutritional status and consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods in patients with Optical Neuromyelitis Spectrum (ENMO). Materials and Methods: Crosssectional, quantitative study, comprising 37 patients with ENMO followed by the specialized Neurology Outpatient Clinic of a tertiary hospital. To assess the nutritional status, measurements of height and current weight were measured to determine the Body Mass Index. Food consumption was investigated using 24- hour recalls. Foods were classified according to the degree of processing recommended by Monteiro, Louzada (2015) and the Food Guide for the Brazilian population (2014) as fresh or minimally processed, processed and ultraprocessed. Means and standard deviation (sigma) of caloric intake from proteins, carbohydrates, fats, fibers (g) and groups of the Food Guide for the Brazilian population were investigated. Results and discussion: the mean BMI was 26.58 kg/m(2), with a prevalence of overweight in the population studied. We observed that the higher the income, the higher the consumption of protein, trans fats and fresh foods. According to the classification of the groups, 65.71% came from fresh or minimally processed foods, 13.15% from processed foods and 21.14% from ultra-processed foods. Conclusion: the results expressed that most of the studied group was overweight and had high consumption of processed and ultraprocessed foods in the diet of patients with EMNO.