Food intake, growth and body composition of children and adolescents with autoimmune hepatitis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the food intake, anthropometry, body composition, and sexual maturity of children and adolescents with autoimmune hepatitis.


METHODS
Thirty-seven children and adolescents with autoimmune hepatitis were studied. A questionnaire was given to evaluate food intake over a 24-hour period. Weight, height, and skin-fold thickness were measured. Electric impedance and skin-fold using Slaughter formula were used to evaluate body composition. Sexual maturity was evaluated using the Tanner stage method. Cumulative intake of corticosteroids was determined based on medical records.


RESULTS
Most of the subjects were females (83.3%). Food intake did not meet recommended dietary intakes for energy, calcium, and vitamin A for 43.2%, 94.6%, and 59.4% of the patients, respectively. All subjects were in their respective pubertal developmental stage. A lower Z score for height-for-age (<or-2.0 standard deviation) was found in 3/37 (10.5%) of the patients. Body fat over 30% was found in female patients by bioimpedance (41.9%) and skin-fold (45.2%) evaluation. There was a positive correlation between the 2 methods of measuring body fat (r=/+0.800; P<0.001). A larger reduction (P<0.005) in Z score for height-for-age was observed in patients that received a cumulative dose of corticosteroids of more than 10.0 g.


CONCLUSIONS
Food intake in children and adolescents with autoimmune hepatitis is below recommended standards especially for energy, calcium, and vitamin A. Cumulative dose of corticoids was associated with reduction of Z score for height-for-age.
Cortez
Ana Paula Bidutte
AP
Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Federal University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
de Morais
Mauro Batista
MB
Speridião
Patrícia da Graça Leite
Pda G
da Motta Mattar
Regina Helena Guedes
RH
Calanca
Flávia
F
Neto
Ulysses Fagundes
UF
D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition; D002118:Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating; D017097:Electric Impedance; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage; D055815:Young Adult
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014801:Vitamin A; D002118:Calcium