The nutrition and growth over a 10 month period of an infant with the Prader-Willi syndrome.

The nutritional status and growth of infants in the pre-obese phase of the Prader-Willi Syndrome has not previously been investigated. In this study the daily energy and protein intake of a male infant with this syndrome was measured from the 21st to the 330th day of life, together with weekly weight and monthly height measurements. The primary source of food was expressed breast milk. Daily energy intake was 29-66 per cent below recommended amounts. Protein intake did not exceed 12 g per day. Body weight remained at or below the third centile with a marked downward trend at 6 months. The symptoms associated with the Prader-Willi Syndrome result in a lack of physical maturity; poor feeding exacerbates this situation.