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Dietary supplement and nutrition in children with cystic fibrosis
Insights
Nutritional status in cystic fibrosis of the pancreas (CFP) impacts growth. A specialized dietary supplement improved weight, clinical scores, and reduced white blood cell (WBC) counts in CFP patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Gastroenterology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Poor growth is common in cystic fibrosis of the pancreas (CFP).
- Nutritional status markers like albumin, urea nitrogen, cholesterol, and white blood cell (WBC) counts correlate with growth in CFP patients.
- CFP patients exhibit growth deceleration after age 8.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of a specialized dietary supplement on the nutritional status and growth of patients with CFP.
- To evaluate changes in clinical scores and serological markers following nutritional intervention.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 15 CFP patients received a year-long dietary supplement (beef serum hydrolysate, glucose polymer, medium-chain triglycerides).
- Nutritional status was assessed through weight, clinical scores, serum albumin, and WBC counts.
- Outcomes were compared to a control group of CFP patients not receiving the supplement.
Main Results:
- Patients receiving the dietary supplement showed significant weight gain.
- A significant increase in clinical scores and serum albumin levels was observed.
- The intervention led to a significant reduction in WBC counts compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- The specialized dietary supplement effectively improved nutritional status in CFP patients.
- Nutritional intervention can positively impact growth, clinical outcomes, and inflammatory markers in CFP.
- Dietary supplementation is a viable strategy to manage poor growth and associated complications in cystic fibrosis of the pancreas.
Abstract:
Assessment of nutritional status of patients with cystic fibrosis of the pancreas (CFP) showed that poor growth was associated with low concentrations of albumin, urea nitrogen, and cholesterol in serum and with elevated white blood cell (WBC) counts. Patients with CFP maintained weight approximately 1 standard deviation below the mean until 8 years, after which there was a progressive decline in growth rate compared to normal. A complete dietary supplement consisting of a beef serum hydrolysate, a glucose polymer, and medium-chain triglycerides was given to 15 patients for a year. Patients who received the diet showed significant gains in weight, significant increase in clinical score, significant increase in serum albumin level, and a significant drop in the WBC count compared to control patients who did not receive the supplement.