Chidomere R I, Ukpabi I K, Chukwudi N K, Ojinnaka N C
Departments of Paediatrics, Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.
Neurology Unit, Department of Paediatrics, FMC, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.
West Afr J Med. 2020 Dec;37(7):812-818.
Micronutrients are essential for growth and development and their deficiencies are reported in children with cerebral palsy who have attributes that predispose them to such nutrient deficiencies. There are few studies on micronutrients status of CP children in our sub-region.
To investigate micronutrient status of children with cerebral palsy and compare values with those of controls.
One hundred and sixty- nine children with CP and 169 controls were enrolled consecutively. Clinical features were documented using Gross Motor Functional Classification System to assess severity. Venous blood was collected for micronutrient levels measurement. Student's t test, Chi-square test and bivariate analysis were used as appropriate. Multiple linear regression was used to identify clinical antecedents of any deranged micronutrient.
The serum zinc, calcium and vitamin D levels were lower in the subjects compared with the controls (p <0.001).There was significant association between the serum levels of the micronutrients and age in the subjects (<0.05). Serum zinc level was associated with socioeconomic class in both subjects and controls (p < 0.001, 0.001 respectively). Serum zinc and calcium were significantly low in 69.7% and 15.2% of subjects with feeding problems respectively. Age, gender, socioeconomic class and feeding problems had significant independent effect on serum zinc levels of the subjects.
Serum levels of zinc, calcium and vitamin D are significantly low in children with CP. Age, socioeconomic class and feeding problems independently influenced the serum zinc level in the subjects. Periodic assessment of children with CP to identify those who might need specific intervention is advocated.
微量营养素对生长发育至关重要，据报道，患有脑瘫的儿童存在易导致此类营养素缺乏的特征，因而存在微量营养素缺乏的情况。在我们这个次区域，针对脑瘫儿童的微量营养素状况的研究较少。
调查脑瘫儿童的微量营养素状况，并与对照组儿童的相应数值进行比较。
连续招募了169名脑瘫儿童和169名对照儿童。使用粗大运动功能分类系统记录临床特征以评估严重程度。采集静脉血用于测量微量营养素水平。酌情使用学生t检验、卡方检验和双变量分析。采用多元线性回归来确定任何微量营养素紊乱的临床先兆。
与对照组相比，研究对象的血清锌、钙和维生素D水平较低（p<0.001）。研究对象中，微量营养素的血清水平与年龄之间存在显著关联（<0.05）。研究对象和对照组的血清锌水平均与社会经济阶层相关（分别为p<0.001和0.001）。分别有69.7%和15.2%存在喂养问题的研究对象血清锌和钙水平显著偏低。年龄、性别、社会经济阶层和喂养问题对研究对象的血清锌水平具有显著的独立影响。
脑瘫儿童的血清锌、钙和维生素D水平显著偏低。年龄、社会经济阶层和喂养问题独立影响了研究对象的血清锌水平。提倡对脑瘫儿童进行定期评估，以确定那些可能需要特殊干预的儿童。
