Evaluation of food and nutritional intake of children and adolescents with Down Syndrome: a case-control study

Abstract

Down Syndrome (DS) is explained by a change in the chromosomal constitution; in the gestational period a congenital dysfunction occurs, leading to the presence of an additional chromosome in pair 21 in 95% of the cases and, in 5%, the translocation in chromosome 14 and moisacism. A varied and balanced diet is essential for the growth and maintenance of health and can bring important results for individuals with DS, since they present hypotonia at birth that can lead to a lower energy expenditure when compared to other children, tending to obesity at over time. In addition, the deficiency of vitamins and minerals in people with DS has been verified in several studies. Zinc has great importance in human health due to its participation in several physiological functions; the deficiency of this mineral causes damages to the growth and the development, besides favoring the development of diseases related to the alterations of the biochemical, immunological and clinical functions. Given this, the nutritional status (through anthropometric data and classification curves) and food intake of children and adolescents (through a 24-hour recall and food frequency questionnaire) with SD comparing them to a control group will be evaluated, same age and sex without any syndrome or disease, to better understand the requirements of these individuals. Case group will be composed of 50 and Control group of 100 children and adolescents. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee (CEP) of the Faculty of Medicine of Unesp de Botucatu. The results obtained will be analyzed statistically and published in scientific journals and events.