ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluated the effect of short-term oral supplementation in the nutritional status of 14 patients with cystic fibrosis in 19 hospital admissions. METHODS: All patients received standard pulmonary therapy, and to 13 patients (Group I = GI) a high-fat oral supplement was offered besides the standard diet. The control group (GII) received the same diet except for the supplement. Anthropometric measurements, quantitative assessment of energy intake and serum biochemical parameters were determined on admission and prior to discharge from hospital. RESULTS: There was no difference in the weight gain between groups (median: GI=+1000 g; GII=+550 g), nor in the variations of height, skinfolds and body fat. Z scores were calculated (mean-/+SD: weight/age, GI=-2.19-/+1.0, GII=-2.57-/+1.1; height/age, GI=-1.73-/+1.4, GII=-2.06-/+1.4 ), showing that those patients had chronic severe malnutrition, with no changes in Z Score in this period. The diet offered to the patients provided the RDA for calories only in the supplemented group, and this value was significantly higher compared to the non-supplemented group (mean -/+ SD : GI= 146-/+20% RDA; GII=105-/+13%RDA). The energy intake was significantly higher in group I (mean-/+SD: GI=126-/+22%RDA; GII= 81-/+27%RDA), and it increased significantly by the end of admission in this group. The biochemical assessment revealed low levels of prealbumin in both groups on admission (mean-/+SD: GI=11-/+10mg/dl; GII=8-/+8 mg/dl), with significant increase only in group I (mean-/+SD: GI=23-/+15 mg/dl; GII=8-/+11 mg/dl). No variations in the levels of triglycerides were observed, but the cholesterol levels increased significantly in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although the weight gain was similar in both groups, prealbumin increased only in the supplemented group. This group had a higher energy intake than the non-supplemented one, and it reached the RDA for calories.