Evaluation of the efficacy of using a mixture based on whey protein hydrolysate for nutritional supplementation of children with cerebral palsy
Authors:   Federal Research Centre of Nutrition, Biotechnology and Food Safety, Moscow, Russian Federation, Titova O.N. , Taran N.N. ,   Federal Research Centre of Nutrition, Biotechnology and Food Safety, Moscow, Russian Federation,   Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russian Federation, Strokova T.V. ,   Federal Research Centre of Nutrition, Biotechnology and Food Safety, Moscow, Russian Federation,   Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russian Federation, Matinyan I.A. ,   Federal Research Centre of Nutrition, Biotechnology and Food Safety, Moscow, Russian Federation, Keleynikoba A.V. ,   Federal Research Centre of Nutrition, Biotechnology and Food Safety, Moscow, Russian Federation, Pavlovskaya E.V. ,   Federal Research Centre of Nutrition, Biotechnology and Food Safety, Moscow, Russian Federation
Published: October 2020

Aim: to evaluate the efficacy of using a semi-element mixture for nutritional supplementation of children with cerebral palsy (CP) and a body mass deficit with gastrointestinal symptoms. Patients and Methods: 27 children with CP aged from 2 to 18 years were examined. All children underwent the following tests: anthropometry (measurement of body weight and linear growth), measurement of the triceps and biceps skinfold thickness, shoulder circumference measurement, body composition estimation by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis, calculation of basic energy demand indicators. A semi-elemental mixture based on whey protein hydrolysate with a high content of medium-chain triglycerides was used as nutritional supplementation. The diet therapy efficacy was evaluated after 6 months based on the analysis of the dynamics of anthropometric indicators and gastrointestinal symptoms. Results: all children had a body mass deficit, in the structure of which the severe body mass deficit was 48.2%. The study of body composition components revealed a deficit of lean body mass, active cell mass, absolute and relative amounts of body fat mass, total and intracellular fluid. Gastrointestinal symptoms were mainly represented by disorders of bowel habit in the form of constipation (70.4% of cases), changes in appetite (reduced/selective hunger; 63% of cases) and flatulence (51.8%). When re-examined after 6 months, 44.4% of children’s body weight indicators reached the age norm during nutritional supplementation with a semi-elemental mixture. Body mass deficit of various degrees persisted in 15 (55.6%) patients, while severe body mass deficit — only in 6 (22.2%). The range of weight gain was from 0.5 to 8.4 kg. An increase in the shoulder muscles circumference indicates an increase in the somatic protein pool, which is confirmed by the analysis of the body component composition. An increase in the estimated value of the basic energy demand was registered. Gastrointestinal symptoms were stopped in 44.4% of cases, while constipation persisted in 15 (55.6%) children. Conclusion: the high efficiency of nutritional supplementation with the semi-elemental mixture in children with CP, body mass deficit and gastrointestinal symptoms is confirmed by the positive dynamics of anthropometric indicators and a decrease in the frequency of gastrointestinal manifestations. KEYWORDS: cerebral palsy, body mass deficit, anthropometry, bioelectrical impedance analysis, gastrointestinal symptoms, nutritional supplementation, diet therapy, cow’s milk protein hydrolysate, semi-elemental mixture. FOR CITATION: Titova O.N., Taran N.N., Strokova T.V. et al. Evaluation of the efficacy of using a mixture based on whey protein hydrolysate for nutritional supplementation of children with cerebral palsy. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2020;4(5):282–289. DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821- 2020-4-5-282-289.