If you are a new patient who was recently diagnosed, please make sure to read this page first for basic knowledge and understanding of citrin deficiency.

It is difficult to deal with personal conditions or even notice the change of our condition when we are busy, restricted by peer pressure and the work environment, or accustomed to feeling unwell.

Please take a moment to revisit your condition and start improving your quality of life by caring about your diet as an initial step.

Continuing a diet that is suitable for citrin deficiency is the key to feeling healthy every day.

Please be mindful about your diet especially when you encounter major changes in lifestyle: for example moving out from your parent’s home, getting married, or when you are put on an irregular shift at work. Please make sure you follow the steps below.

• Eat 3 meals and snack in between meals. Do not miss meals. Consider adding MCT to your diet
  

It may seem like you take enough energy from food because most foods are oily, but citrin deficiency may result in energy deficit if the diet is not properly and carefully managed. Three regular meals and snacking are the bare necessities for patients as a shortage of energy greatly affects the quality of life as it could lead to fatigue or lowered concentration.

Snacks can be anything you wish to eat between meals. Drinking milk can also be counted as snacking. Please utilize this leaflet to gain a better understanding of the importance of snacking at work or at school. The best is to take a small amount of snacks frequently, but the most important thing is to snack at least once a day.

Example of snacks: whole milk, beef jerky, energy bar, sausage, nuts, dark chocolate, yogurt etc.

You are  recommended to add MCT into your diet everyday as a supplement. It may be able to give you extra energy and help you with the energy deficit that may be caused by citrin deficiency. MCT has also been reported to be effective for citrin deficiency patients during the compensatory phase.

Some suggested methods of consuming MCT oil are as follows:

• • Blend it in your smoothie or drink with a blender
  • Mix it in your salad or add it to boiled vegetables
  • Add it to your soup and stir it well
  • Dip it with bread

• Consume meals with more protein, more fat, and less carbohydrate

  The nutritional balance of food consumed, namely the balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrate together with sufficient energy intake is by far the most important treatment for citrin deficiency. The imbalance, especially from the consumption of too much carbohydrate is likely to cause sickness. Both short-term intensive imbalance and long-term imbalance can increase the chance of leading to the adult-onset of citrin deficiency.

  It is important to revisit your diet especially when there are changes in the routine of your lifestyle.

• No consumption of alcohol

  Alcohol is very likely to cause serious damage such as hyperammonemia or mental disturbance to patients with citrin deficiency and may sometimes put their life in danger. It is completely different from a hangover. Although alcohol tolerance may differ from person to person, crossing the threshold will cause detrimental damage to patients. It is not worth risking your life to consume alcohol.