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Energy intake does not correlate with nutritional state in children with severe generalized cerebral palsy and

Elsbeth A C Calis1, Rebekka Veugelers, Rob Rieken

  • 1Intellectual Disability Medicine, Department of General Practice, Erasmus MC, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands. e.calis@psyq.nl

Clinical Nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland)
|March 30, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Nutritional status in children with cerebral palsy and intellectual disability is not solely dependent on energy intake. Factors like age, gender, mobility, and feeding method significantly influence their nutritional state, suggesting a need for personalized care.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Nutrition Science
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Children with cerebral palsy (CP) and intellectual disability (ID) often exhibit poor nutritional status compared to healthy children.
  • Reduced daily energy intake has been observed in this population, leading to hypotheses about its correlation with nutritional state.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the correlation between daily energy intake and nutritional status in children with severe generalized CP and ID.
  • To identify factors influencing nutritional status beyond energy intake in this specific pediatric population.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based sample of 176 children with severe generalized CP and ID (mean age 10 years) was studied.
  • Anthropometric parameters including weight, limb lengths, and skinfold thicknesses were measured.
  • Dietary intake was registered and analyzed in relation to anthropometric Z-scores.

Main Results:

  • No significant correlation was found between energy intake (as %EAR) and anthropometric Z-scores.
  • Higher age, female gender, increased mobility, and lack of tube feeding were associated with lower anthropometric Z-scores.

Conclusions:

  • Nutritional status in children with severe generalized CP and ID is not primarily determined by energy intake.
  • Energy expenditure likely plays a crucial role, necessitating further research into the complex associations.
  • Individualized nutritional care, potentially guided by energy expenditure, is recommended to prevent both malnutrition and overweight.
Abstract

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