title: Eating practices, nutritional status and constipation in patients with Rett syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Disturbance in chewing, swallowing and digestive motility may predispose to feeding and nutritional abnormalities in patients with Rett syndrome.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the dietary habits, nutritional status and the prevalence of constipation in patients with classical Rett syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty seven female patients between the ages of 2.6 and 21.8 years were studied. The following parameters were evaluated: food register, weight, height and intestinal movement characteristics. Weight and height were compared with the National Center for Health Statistics standards.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The inability to ingest solid foods was observed in 80.8% of the patients. A height-to-age deficit was observed in 13 (48.1%) of the girls, being more intense in patients at stage IV. Weight-for-height deficit was found in 10 (37.0%) patients, 15 (55.6%) showed normal weight and 2 (7.4%) were overweight for their height. The median ingestion of energy, according to weight-for-height, was equal to 106.6%. Insufficient iron ingestion was observed in 63.0% and insufficient calcium in 55.6% of the patients. Constipation was verified in 74.1% of the patients and did not show a relationship with the quantity of fiber in the diet.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Various nutritional problems, as well as, intestinal constipation were observed in these patients with Rett syndrome, and they must be considered in the multidisciplinary therapeutic planning of these individuals.
authors.affiliation: Post Graduation Course on Nutrition, Federal University of São Paulo, Paulista School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schwartzman
authors.forename: Márcia Regina
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Vítolo
authors.forename: José Salomão
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Schwartzman
authors.forename: Mauro Batista de
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Morais
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002118:Calcium / Q000172:deficiency; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003248:Constipation / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology*; D015518:Rett Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium