Dietary Assesment of Children with Cerebral Palsy: Case Control Study in Isparta

To evaluate nutrient intakes and dietary assessment of the children with cerebral palsy (CP) in our region, and to investigate the effects of various factors specific to this condition. Method: Forty-three children (24 males 19 females; mean age 8.1±4.2 years) with CP admitting to an outpatient center were included in the study. In addition, a control group of 27 children were recruited from the siblings of the children with CP. All caretakers were interviewed and a three-day dietary record of the children with CP and controls were obtained. Results: Overall, 32.6% of the children were quadriplegic, 44.2% diplegic and 14.0% hemiplegic. The mean percent of the Recommended Dietary Allowances for energy intake was lower in the children with CP than that in the controls (p<0.05), while no differences were detected between the groups according to protein, calcium, iron and vitamin C intakes. We also observed that there were differences in the amount of daily nutrients in the CP group according to some characteristic like gender and age. Conclusion: These results showed that daily nutrient intakes of the children with CP in Isparta province are insufficient.