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Nutritional intake and status in children with cystic fibrosis: does age matter?

Helen White1, Susan P Wolfe, Jeanette Foy

  • 1Adult Cystic Fibrosis Unit, Seacroft Hospital, Leeds, UK. H.White@leedsmet.ac.uk

Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
|January 6, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Children with cystic fibrosis (CF) show increased energy intake with age, yet growth falters in older age groups. Nutritional status requires targeted intervention despite higher calorie consumption in CF patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Management
  • Growth and Development in Chronic Illness

Background:

  • Children with cystic fibrosis (CF) often face nutritional challenges impacting growth and overall health.
  • Understanding age-related variations in nutritional intake and status is crucial for effective CF care.
  • Previous research indicates potential disparities in nutrient consumption and body composition among pediatric CF populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate age-specific differences in nutritional intake and status among children with cystic fibrosis (CF).
  • To compare nutritional parameters between children with CF and healthy controls across different age brackets.
  • To identify predictors of nutritional status, such as lung function, in relation to age in pediatric CF patients.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study involving 58 children with CF and 45 healthy controls, aged 5-16 years.
  • Participants were stratified into three age groups: 5-8, 9-12, and 13-16 years.
  • Nutritional assessment included anthropometric measurements (weight, height, BMI) and a 4-day food diary analysis for macronutrient and micronutrient intake.

Main Results:

  • Energy intake, expressed as a percentage of the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR), increased with age in children with CF and was significantly higher than in controls.
  • While weight and growth were comparable to controls in the 9-12 year group, suboptimal growth was noted in the 5-8 year group, and a significant decline occurred in the 13-16 year group.
  • Lung function emerged as a significant predictor of nutritional status in older children with CF (9-16 years), but not in the youngest group (5-8 years).

Conclusions:

  • Despite increased energy intake with age, children with CF experience growth deficits, particularly in the youngest and oldest age groups studied.
  • Current energy intakes, though higher than controls, appear insufficient to meet the clinical demands and support optimal growth in children with CF.
  • Children with CF remain vulnerable, necessitating tailored nutritional interventions to address age-related growth faltering and optimize clinical outcomes.
Abstract

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