Food habits in 10-11-year-old children with functional gastrointestinal disorders.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of food habits and nutrient intake in children with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) considering their association with psychosocial factors.


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


METHODS
A rural town in Mid-Western Finland.


METHODS
After excluding organic gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, a total of 49 children with FGID and 78 control children without GI symptoms from a cohort of 422 children were studied.


METHODS
Food frequency questionnaire, GI-symptoms questionnaire and the Child Behaviour Check List (CBCL) filled in by parents together with their child, and 24-h dietary recall and anthropometric and haematological measurements.


RESULTS
Compared to control children, fewer children with FGID had daily family dinner (77 vs 91%, P = 0.030) and they used less often vegetables (P = 0.023), fruits (P = 0.027) and berries (P = 0.011), but more often ice cream (P = 0.018) and soft drinks (P = 0.027) and had a higher sucrose intake (9 vs 7E%, P = 0.032) and lower lactose intake (27 vs 36 g, P = 0.001). Reported food-related symptoms were more common among FGID group (69 vs 11%), as well as restricted milk use (31 vs 0%). Children with FGID had higher total problem scores in CBCL (P=0.002), and the behavioural/emotional problems associated with occurrence of FGID (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.07-1.076) as did the sugar intake (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.004-1.215).


CONCLUSIONS
This population-based study suggests that school-aged children with FGIDs have less-organized food habits and higher milk avoidance, and they display internalizing psychological characteristics.


BACKGROUND
Juho Vainio Foundation, Finland; the Alma and K.A. Snellman Foundation, Oulu, and the Pediatric Research Foundation, Finland.
Haapalahti
M
M
Department of Pediatrics, University of Oulu, Finland. mila.haapalahti@uku.fi
Mykkänen
H
H
Tikkanen
S
S
Kokkonen
J
J
D000818:Animals; D000886:Anthropometry; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008892:Milk; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D012423:Rural Health; D014675:Vegetables
D019422:Dietary Sucrose