title: Effects of nutrition intervention on the nutritional status and outcomes of pediatric patients with pneumonia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aims to explore the correlation between nutrient level and pneumonia via the analysis and intervention of nutrient levels in pediatric patients with pneumonia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nutrient deficient children with pneumonia were randomized into intervention and non-intervention groups, and healthy children with the same age served as controls. Serum vitamin and trace element levels were determined. The nutrient levels, average hospital stay and nutrient deficiency rate were compared between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pneumonia group showed significantly higher rates of iron, zinc and vitamin A deficiencies than the control group. The serum vitamin D level in asthmatic pneumonia group was lower than that in non-asthmatic pneumonia group and control group. Serum zinc, iron and vitamin A levels in the pneumonia group distinctly increased after intervention therapy. After vitamin D supplementation, the serum vitamin D level in asthmatic pneumonia group was significantly improved. Children in the intervention group had shorter hospital stays than children in the non-intervention group, whose hospital stays were longer than pediatric patients with normal nutrient levels. However, the difference between the intervention and normal nutrient groups was insignificant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical nutrition intervention could improve the efficacy of pneumonia in pediatric patients and shorten hospital stay.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics Huai'an First People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University Huai'an, Jiangsu Province, China - jinhuitangcn@163.com.
authors.forename: Wendi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Xiaofeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.forename: Jiaxin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhiwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D001361:Avitaminosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements; D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D