On the Teen Mom OG episode “Mama Bear,” while Bristol Palin moves out of her house with soon-to-be ex-husband Dakota, fellow new mom Cheyenne Floyd talks about her daughter Ryder’s rare genetic disorder, VLCAD. The disorder keeps Ryder from processing certain fats into energy which her body needs to function properly. (Some high estimates suggest that one out of every 30,000 people have VLCAD.)
[Related: Teen Mom: Who Is Cory, Father of Cheyenne’s Baby Daughter Ryder?]
VLCAD is an acronym for “Very-long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency.” Symptoms in children include too much sleepiness, poor appetite, and irritability. Children with VLCAD need to eat extra starchy foods (bread, cereal, rice) to avoid low blood sugar. And they shouldn’t go without food for more than 4 to 6 hours. Snacks right before bed and first thing in the morning are recommended. It’s genetic, so it’s something she’ll always have. Teen Mom OG airs Mondays at 9 pm on MTV.
