The Nutritional and Some Biochemical Assessment of Down's Syndrome Children in Egypt
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- Category: Vol. 81, June 2013
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The Nutritional and Some Biochemical Assessment of Down's Syndrome Children in Egypt, ZIENAB H.A. ABU EL-GHEAT, SAHAR A. KHAIRY, HEWAIDA A.E. FADEL, ASMAA M. ABDALLAH and SHAWKIA S. ABDEL HALEEM
Abstract
Background: Down's syndrome (Ds) is the most common chromosomal disorder.
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional and health status of DS' children.
Subjects: The study conducted on 241 children with Down Syndrome (DS). Their age ranged from 6-18 years old, from six governorates in Egypt.
Methodology: All children were subjected to clinical examination, anthropometric assessment and sub sample was taken for laboratory testes including hemoglobin concentration (HB conc.) and estimation of some parameters related to health status. Food history was taken using 24 h recall method for about 50% of the sample.
Results: Indicated that about half of sample (49.37%) had signs of malnutrition in head and neck, and 12% had IQ <50%. Most of them were overweight 50.4% and stunting 60.2%. The mean of Hemoglobin concentration for the sample was 12.2%, the prevalence of anemia was found among 61.3%. 7.47% of the sample was in high risk for serum cholesterol, while 20.59% for TG. 11.3% was in high level for serumTSH and 2.8% in low one. The mean plasma levels of Mg, Zn and Cu was 1.88 lig /dl, 173.9 tig/d1 and 101.79 tig/d1 respectively. There was statistically significant differences between Body Mass Index (BMI) levels and the estimated plasma levels of Mg, Se and Zn. Approximately 40% of the sample had insuf-ficient energy. The mean calcium (Ca) intake and iodine (I) were around half the requirements (53.3% and 48.37% of RDIs value respectively), while 84.2% and 83.2% of the total sample had insufficient Ca and I intakes. More over 91% had insufficient iron intake. The mean vit. A intake was about 74% of the RDIs while about half of the sample (45.54%) had insufficient vit A intake. The others micronutrients (Cu, vit. B 1, B2 and vit C) had mean intakes over the RDIs.
Recommendations:
- Prevention by early detection and intervention through the encouragement of pre-marriage test to applicants for mar-riage.
- Early childhood intervention specially TSH for detection of thyroid disease, screening for common problems, medical treatment where indicated.
- Children with DS should be monitored for anemia and iron deficiency.
- It is important for the screening and treatment to prevent risk for ischemic heart disease.
- Improving teacher's skills for efficient dealing with this group of population.
- Re- planning the daily diets to contain more carbohydrates, calcium, zinc, iodine and iron according to RDIs. The suggested dietary sources are legumes, cereals, milk and dairy products, and intake the iodized salt or supplementation with the previous nutrient mentioned.