Growth and minerals status in children with cerebral palsy in Shiraz, Iran during April 2012-April 2013

Background: Growth retardation and nutritional deficiencies is common in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and can influence their motor function. This study aimed to evaluate the growth and minerals status in children with CP and determine the association between macro and micro-minerals deficiencies with some factors like age, sex, type, and severity of CP and severity of malnutrition in these children. Methods: One hundred patients with CP underwent anthropometric measurements. Malnutrition was assessed according to Gomes, Waterlow, Cole, and WHO classifications. Ten patients were excluded from the study due to hemolysis of blood samples. Serum analysis for minerals’ concentration was performed for calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), and ferritin. Motor functions were evaluated in according to Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and manual ability classification system (MACS) classifications. Statistical analysis of patients’ data was done using Chi-square and ANOVA tests. Results: From a total of 90 participants, 30% had severe wasting, and 38.9% had severe stunting. Zinc deficiency was common among these children. Also, there were association between serum phosphorus (P) level and age variant (p = 0.03) and between high grades of GMFCS and zinc (Zn) deficiency (p = 0.04). Correlations were significant between severe malnutrition and spastic quadriplegic type and between stunting and wasting with spastic quadriplegic CP. Conclusion: Malnutrition and growth retardation is common in children with CP. As an improvement in nutritional status has an impact on motor function and life quality in children with CP, more attention is recommended to their nutritional status and feeding problems.