Potentials of bioimpedance method for nutritional status assessment in children with cerebral palsy

Objectives: To study the potential of the bioimpedance method for nutritional status assessment in children with cerebral palsy.Material and methods. There were examined 89 children with cerebral palsy (average age: 10,24 years±3,6 years). Such anthropometric indicators as body height (cm), body weight (kg) and body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) were investigated. The scientists formed two comparison groups: Group 1: 40 children without malnutrition (z-score BMI over 1), Group 2: 49 children with malnutrition (z-score BMI is 1,1 and less). The body composition was evaluated by bioimpedancemetry in both groups of comparison.Results. The scientist found significant differences in body composition in terms of fat mass between boys and girls with cerebral palsy, both with malnutrition and without nutritional deficiency. They determined that children with cerebral palsy without malnutrition demonstrate various changes in the parameters of the body composition comparable to those in patients with trophic deficiency, even before the anthropometry indicators change. According to the parameters of lean mass, active cell mass in the group of children without malnutrition, the results of 40% of boys and girls were below the normative values, which indicated an altered tissue composition of the body and existing deficiency of the protein component.Conclusion. The scientists determined unidirectional changes in the body component composition in children with cerebral palsy and malnutrition and in children without trophic deficiency. The assessment of the body by bioimpedance measurement can serve as an effective tool for the diagnosis of nutritional disorders in children with cerebral palsy.