title: Food pattern and nutritional status of children with cerebral palsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVES To assess the food intake pattern and the nutritional status of children with cerebral palsy. METHODS Cross-sectional study with 90 children from two to 12.8 years with cerebral palsy in the following forms: hemiplegia, diplegia, and tetraplegia. Nutritional status was assessed by weight, height, and age data. Food intake was verified by the 24-hour recall and food frequency questionnaire. The ability to chew and/or swallowing, intestinal habits, and physical activity were also evaluated. RESULTS For 2-3 year-old age group, the mean energy intake followed the recommended range; in 4-6 year-old age group with hemiplegia and tetraplegia, energy intake was below the recommended limits. All children presented low intake of carbohydrates, adequate intake of proteins and high intake of lipids. The tetraplegia group had a higher prevalence of chewing (41%) and swallowing (12.8%) difficulties compared to 14.5 and 6.6% of children with hemiplegia, respectively. Most children of all groups had a daily intestinal habit. All children presented mild physical activity, while moderate activity was not practiced by any child of the tetraplegia group, which had a significantly lower height/age Z score than those with hemiplegia (-2.14 versus -1.05; p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS The children with cerebral palsy presented inadequate dietary pattern and impaired nutritional status, with special compromise of height. Tetraplegia imposes difficulties regarding chewing/swallowing and moderate physical activity practice.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Departamento de Pediatria, São PauloSP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Patrícia Ayrosa C
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Olga Maria S
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Amancio
authors.forename: Roberta Faria C
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.forename: Maria Sylvia de S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Vitalle
authors.forename: Josefina Aparecida P
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Braga
mesh_terms: D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status