Dietary Habits and Nutritional Status in Mentally Retarded Children and Adolescents: A study from North Western India

Objective: To compare the dietary habits and nutritional status of mentally retarded (MR) and normal (NG) subjects and to examine the relationship between the dietary habits and nutritional status and the level of mental retardation in the MR group. Method: A case control design was utilized: 117 MR (random sampling) and 100 NG (quota sampling) subjects between 7-18 years matched for age (except in the 16-18 years age group) and socioeconomic status were selected from a government and private institution, respectively. Nutritional status (energy, protein, fat, calcium, iron and vitamins A, B1, B2 and C) was assessed by the food diary method. Body Mass Index was recorded. Eating habits were obtained on a dietary habits proforma and blood samples were analyzed (hemoglobin, lymphocyte count and serum albumin). Results: More MR children were underweight, while more normal children wee overweight. MR group was significantly more likely to have difficulty in chewing and swallowing; and the tendency to spit out and vomit food. Based on a cutoff of 2/3 RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance), diets were deficient in iron and possibly riboflavin in 10-18 year old MR males; and in iron in the normal group; however, a direct comparison of the MR and normal groups revealed that male MR subjects had significantly lower intake of most nutrients. Level of retardation was associated with selffeeding deficits. Conclusion: Diets of MR and normal group subjects were inadequate with regard to mean iron consumption; and boys with MR had significantly lower consumption of all nutrients in comparison to normal boys. INTRODUCTION Mental retardation (MR) is one of the major clinical and socially relevant conditions that affects 3% of the total pediatric population. The deleterious effect of early malnutrition on later intellectual development in children in developing countries has been clearly documented. It is also known that severely mentally disabled children are at a high risk for developing malnutrition which may partly explain the growth retardation generally encountered in such children and associated complications in later life. Malnutrition as revealed by anthropometric variables is highly prevalent among children with MR; and the prevalence of malnutrition increases with age, deterioration of mental functioning and cerebral palsy. In a study on nutrient intake in MR children, non-obese subjects with Down’s syndrome were reported to consume several micronutrients at <80% of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) and to have a low energy intake; though their body composition did not differ in comparison to the control group. Another study showed that male and female individuals with MR differed significantly with regard to their energy intake;