Article,

Management of nutrition in children and adults with severe motor and intellectual disabilities

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No To Hattatsu, 35 (3): 206--210 (May 2003)

Abstract

In children and adults with severe motor and intellectual disabilities (SMID), management of nutrition is very important. We investigated the problem of long-term use of tube feeding on which many of them depend because of swallowing dysfunction. Trace elements such as copper, zinc, selenium and long chain unsaturated fatty acid (omega-3 fatty acid) were often deficient. To evaluate their nutritional condition, we calculated the body fat mass by the method of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis and measurement of subcutaneous fat thickness. Patients with the athetotic type of cerebral palsy had a lower level fat mass than those with the spastic type. Patients with a low body fat mass tended to require more energy than those with a high body fat mass. To improve the quality of life of persons with SMID, it is important to find clinical dysfunction related to the nutrition and to improve the nutritional condition immediately.

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