Nutritional status of mentally retarded children in northwest Spain: II. Biochemical indicators

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the nutritional status of mentally retarded children in the region of Galicia, northwest Spain, on the basis of serum biochemistry variables. Methods: The following serum biochemistry variables were determined in a sample of 128 mentally retarded children (81 boys and 47 girls): albumin, prealbumin, retinol‐binding protein, transferrin, ferritin, ceruloplasmin, iron, calcium, phosphorus, copper, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, alkaline phosphatase, transaminases and carnitine. A preliminary statistical analysis indicated that most information content could be maintained taking into consideration only five of these variables. A factor analysis of the resulting 5 × 128 variables‐by‐subjects data matrix was then performed, identifying three factors (FB1, FB2 and FB3) that together explained 74% of total variance. Taking these factors as indicators of nutritional status, the data were then analysed for possible effects of age, gender, socioeconomic and family environment, IQ, presence/absence of cerebral palsy, quality of diet, appetite and use of antiepileptics. Results: The analysis suggests that most subjects were in the normal nutritional range, but that about 37% showed either borderline or definite malnutrition. The FB1 score showed a significant, positive correlation with age, while FB2 score was negatively correlated with age. The FB1 score showed a significant positive correlation with socioeconomic class, and was significantly higher among children from inland‐rural areas than among children from coastal or urban areas. The FB1 score was also positively correlated with parents’mean age. Finally, the results suggest that antiepileptic treatment with phenobarbital or diphenylhydantoin led to reductions in serum levels of calcium and phosphorus. Conclusion: Malnutrition as revealed by biochemical variables is highly prevalent among mentally retarded children, and the prevalence is affected by socioeconomic and family environment variables.

National malnutrition screening days in hospitalised children in The Netherlands

“…We found a prevalence of 9% and both underlying disease and non-white ethnicity were significantly related to a higher prevalence. The high prevalence of chronic malnutrition of specific groups of children with an underlying disease was also reported recently in children with neurological, cardiac and renal diseases 20–24. Concerning the high prevalence of chronic malnutrition in non-white children we have to address to the fact that we did take into account special growth curves for these children.…”

Parental factors associated with obesity in children with disability: a systematic review

“…Nine studies used a cross‐sectional design , only one used a longitudinal design , while another study used a longitudinal cohort design . Nine studies reported BMI , one study reported Shukla's nutrition index and another study reported parental report of children weight status only (i.e. ‘heavier children’ ).…”

“…Of the 11 studies, 5 mentioned the inclusion or exclusion of children with genetic syndromes ; specifically, 2 studies included children with Down syndromes and other or non‐specified genetic syndromes , while 3 excluded children with a genetic syndrome . In relation to severity of disability, only two studies reported on this , while severity was not mentioned in the other studies . The use of medication was mentioned in only four studies ; three of which included children treated with anti‐convulsant, antipsychotic and anti‐epileptic drugs ; one study excluded children treated in the year prior to the study with any of the above medications , while the other seven studies did not mention the use of medication in their method or results .…”

Nörolojik hastalık nedeniyle kendi başına beslenemeyen çocuklarda anemi, B12 vitamini, folik asit ve demir eksikliği

“…In a study performed in Spain, serum biochemical values (albumin, trasferrin, ferritin, iron, calcium, phosphorous, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDLcholesterol, triglyceride, alkalene phosphatase, transaminase and carnitine) were examined in 128 children with mental retardation and malnutrition was found in the majority of children (74%) with mental retardation (17). In our study, we found a higher rate of malnutrition in our patients (78%) compared to the study performed by Kabakuş et al(16).…”