Energy expenditure is associated with age, anthropometric indicators and body composition in children with spastic cerebral palsy.

INTRODUCTION: proper estimation of energy requirements in children with cerebral palsy (CP) is essential in ensuring that their energy needs are optimally met. OBJECTIVE: therefore, the purpose of this study was to demonstrate that resting energy expenditure (REE) and total energy expenditure (TEE) are associated with age, anthropometric indicators and body composition in children with spastic cerebral palsy. METHODS: a cross-sectional study included 79 participants with spastic CP from 24 months to 16 years nine months. Weight and height (estimated by lower leg length) were obtained; body composition and energy expenditure were estimated by bioelectrical impedance analysis. ANOVA, post hoc tests, the Pearson correlation and determination coefficients (R2) were performed. RESULTS: significant gradual increases according to age in REE and TEE (both in kcal/d) were observed. There were highly significant positive correlations between REE and TEE (kcal/d, kcal/cm/d) with fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM), but negative correlations between REE (kcal/ kg/d) with body composition and energy indicators. FFM and total body water, and to a lesser extent FM, explained a high percentage of the direct variability of REE and TEE in kcal/d and the inverse in kcal/kg/d. CONCLUSIONS: as age increased, energy expenditure also increased. The estimated energy expenditure in kcal/cm/d did not differ with age and sex. The estimated energy expenditure, based on height, would be a practical and reliable method for estimating energy expenditure and ensuring adequate nutritional status.

Energy expenditure is associated with age, anthropometric indicators and body composition in children with spastic cerebral palsy / El gasto energético se asocia con la edad, los indicadores antropométricos y la composición corporal en niños con parálisis cerebral espástica

Introduction: proper estimation of energy requirements in children with cerebral palsy (CP) is essential in ensuring that their energy needs are optimally met. Objective: therefore, the purpose of this study was to demonstrate that resting energy expenditure (REE) and total energy expenditure (TEE) are associated with age, anthropometric indicators and body composition in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Methods: a cross-sectional study included 79 participants with spastic CP from 24 months to 16 years nine months. Weight and height (estimated by lower leg length) were obtained; body composition and energy expenditure were estimated by bioelectrical impedance analysis. ANOVA, post hoc tests, the Pearson correlation and determination coefficients (R2) were performed. Results: significant gradual increases according to age in REE and TEE (both in kcal/d) were observed. There were highly significant positive correlations between REE and TEE (kcal/d, kcal/cm/d) with fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM), but negative correlations between REE (kcal/ kg/d) with body composition and energy indicators. FFM and total body water, and to a lesser extent FM, explained a high percentage of the direct variability of REE and TEE in kcal/d and the inverse in kcal/kg/d. Conclusions: as age increased, energy expenditure also increased. The estimated energy expenditure in kcal/cm/d did not differ with age and sex. The estimated energy expenditure, based on height, would be a practical and reliable method for estimating energy expenditure and ensuring adequate nutritional status

Introducción: la estimación adecuada de los requerimientos de energía en niños con parálisis cerebral (PC) es indispensable para garantizar que sus necesidades energéticas se cumplan de manera optima. Objetivo: demostrar que el gasto de energía en reposo (GER) y el gasto energético total (GET) se asocian con la edad y los indicadores antropométricos y de composición corporal en niños con parálisis cerebral (PC) espástica. Métodos: un estudio transversal incluyo 79 participantes con PC espástica de 24 meses a 16 años y nueve meses de edad. Se obtuvieron el peso y la talla (estimados por la longitud de la pierna inferior); la composición corporal y el gasto de energía se estimaron mediante análisis de impedancia bioelectrica. Se realizaron ANOVA, pruebas post hoc, los coeficientes de correlación y determinación de Pearson (R2). Resultados: se observaron incrementos graduales significativos según la edad en GER y GET (ambos en kcal/d). Hubo correlaciones positivas altamente significativas entre GER y GET (kcal/d, kcal/cm/d) con masa libre de grasa (MLG) y masa grasa (MG) y correlaciones negativas entre GER (kcal/kg/d) con la composición corporal e indicadores de energía. La MLG y el agua corporal total, y en menor grado la MG, explicaron un porcentaje elevado de la variabilidad de GER y GET en kcal/d y en kcal/kg/d Conclusiones: conforme aumento la edad, aumento también el gasto de energía. El gasto energético estimado en kcal/cm/d no difirió con la edad y el sexo. Por tanto, el gasto energético basado en la talla seria un método practico y confiable para garantizar un estado nutricio adecuado