Fat gram target to achieve high energy intake in cystic fibrosis

• Published in: Journal of paediatrics and child health 1997-04, Vol.33 (2), p.142-147
• Main Authors: COLLINS, CE, O'LOUGHLIN, EV, HENRY, RL
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Confidence Intervals; Cross-Sectional Studies; cystic fibrosis; Cystic Fibrosis - diet therapy; diet; Diet Records; Dietary Fats - administration & dosage; Dietary Fats - pharmacokinetics; Dietary Fats - standards; Energy Intake - physiology; Feces - chemistry; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Gastrointestinal Agents - therapeutic use; Humans; Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas; Male; Medical sciences; nutrition; Other diseases. Semiology; Pancreatin - standards; Pancreatin - therapeutic use; Reference Standards; Regression Analysis
• ISSN: 1034-4810; 1440-1754
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1754.1997.tb01017.x

Objective: Higher fat and energy intakes confer a survival advantage in cystic fibrosis (CF). There is a need to develop effective nutrition programmes that ensure optimal energy intake in CF. Methodology: A cross‐sectional measurement of clinical characteristics and energy and fat intakes in patients attending the CF outpatients clinic of the John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle was undertaken. Twenty‐nine subjects, mean age 12 years (range 4.3–20.2), completed weighed food records to determine the contribution of fat to the percentage of the recommended energy intake obtained and to document use of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy. Results: Diets with a high percentage of energy derived from fat did not guarantee that individuals with CF met their energy requirements. Subjects with total fat intakes of 100 g per day or greater, however, achieved in excess of 110% recommended daily intake (RDI) for energy. Up to 47% of subjects consumed more pancreatic enzyme replacement capsules than shown to give maximum effectiveness. Conclusion: Setting a 100 g daily fat target is a realistic way of ensuring high energy intakes in CF. Fat ready reckoners would identify the fat content of food and prescribe specific numbers of pancreatic enzyme replacement capsules to be consumed with each meal or food item.