TY - JOUR

T1 - Oral Motor Impairments Contribute to Weight Status of Adults with Severe Cerebral Palsy

AU - Lyster, Aslak Emil

AU - Hansen, Solvejg Lis

AU - Andersen, Christina Therese

AU - Nielsen, Jens Bo

AU - Westerterp, Klaas

AU - Wouters, Loek

AU - Kiens, Bente

AU - Ritterband-Rosenbaum, Anina

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 by the authors.

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Adults with severe cerebral palsy (CP) are susceptible to malnutrition and metabolic disorders due to limited daily physical activity and challenges related to eating. We hypothesized that the condition of being underweight arises from inadequate energy intake due to difficulties in eating, rather than heightened total energy expenditure or an elevated resting metabolic rate. The present study encompassed 17 adults with severe CP (classified as GMFSC III–V). Energy intake, utilization, and expenditure were gauged via thorough dietary recordings and double-labeled water (DLW) analyses. Resting metabolic rates were assessed through indirect calorimetry, and metabolic health was investigated via blood samples. Oral motor function, eating assessment during meals, and weight fluctuations throughout the experimental period were also evaluated. We found significant correlations between weight, oral impairments (p < 0.01), and eating difficulties (p < 0.05). While total energy expenditure and daily consumption were similar between underweight (UW) and overweight (OW) individuals, significant variability in both expenditure and intake was evident within the UW group. Particularly, those with lower BMIs experienced heightened mealtime impairments and complications. Our present findings indicate that eating difficulties are the central concern for UW status in this population.

AB - Adults with severe cerebral palsy (CP) are susceptible to malnutrition and metabolic disorders due to limited daily physical activity and challenges related to eating. We hypothesized that the condition of being underweight arises from inadequate energy intake due to difficulties in eating, rather than heightened total energy expenditure or an elevated resting metabolic rate. The present study encompassed 17 adults with severe CP (classified as GMFSC III–V). Energy intake, utilization, and expenditure were gauged via thorough dietary recordings and double-labeled water (DLW) analyses. Resting metabolic rates were assessed through indirect calorimetry, and metabolic health was investigated via blood samples. Oral motor function, eating assessment during meals, and weight fluctuations throughout the experimental period were also evaluated. We found significant correlations between weight, oral impairments (p < 0.01), and eating difficulties (p < 0.05). While total energy expenditure and daily consumption were similar between underweight (UW) and overweight (OW) individuals, significant variability in both expenditure and intake was evident within the UW group. Particularly, those with lower BMIs experienced heightened mealtime impairments and complications. Our present findings indicate that eating difficulties are the central concern for UW status in this population.

KW - body weight

KW - cerebral palsy

KW - dietary registration

KW - double-labeled water

KW - energy balance

KW - metabolic health status

KW - oral motor impairment

KW - resting metabolic rate

U2 - 10.3390/nu15245042

DO - 10.3390/nu15245042

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 38140301

AN - SCOPUS:85180649524

VL - 15

JO - Nutrients

JF - Nutrients

SN - 2072-6643

IS - 24

M1 - 5042

ER -