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Biomedical subjects

E A de Graaf

Publications and source records attributed to E A de Graaf.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Eating habits of young children with Down syndrome in The Netherlands: adequate nutrient intakes but delayed introduction of solid food.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate nutritional status, pattern of being breast-fed, age at introduction of solid food, and adequacy of energy and nutrient intakes in children with Down syndrome in The Netherlands. DESIGN: Nutritional status was assessed by height and weight measurements. The dietary history method was used to collect information on the diet. Data obtained from children with Down syndrome were compared with data from control subjects and from the general population of Dutch children. Adequacy of energy and nutrient intakes was assessed by comparison to US recommendations. SUBJECTS: Forty-four Dutch children with Down syndrome (newborns to 4-year-olds) and 37 healthy control subjects without this syndrome. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: The prevalence of breast-feeding of children with and without Down syndrome was compared using the chi 2 test. To compare ages at which solid food was introduced, the log-rank test and Kaplan-Meier curves were used. Anthropometric data and mean dietary intake were compared between the groups using 2-way analysis of variance. Comparison to recommended levels of dietary intake was performed using 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Heights and weights of the children with Down syndrome were in the normal range. Down syndrome does not affect the prevalence of breast-feeding of children or the adequacy of their energy and nutrient intakes, but it does significantly delay the age at which solid food is introduced, which can be deleterious to oral-motor development. APPLICATION: If late introduction of solid food is observed in children with Down syndrome, pre-speech therapy should be considered.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1996

High frequency of celiac disease in Down syndrome.

We screened 115 children with Down syndrome for celiac disease, using antigliadin, antiendomysium, and antireticulin serum antibodies and an intestinal permeability test. Celiac disease was diagnosed in eight children, giving a frequency of 7.0%. We recommend screening for celiac disease in all persons with Down syndrome, with the use of at least the antiendomysium antibody determination.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed1996

Screening for coeliac disease in Dutch children with associated diseases.

Our objective was to assess the frequency of coeliac disease in children with associated disorders in the province of "Zuid-Holland". The Netherlands. We therefore screened 115 children with Down's syndrome, 62 children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and 46 children with diabetes mellitus for CD using the IgA-class of antigliadin, antiendomysium and antireticulin antibodies in serum, and a functional sugar absorption test. The antiendomysium antibody test was the screening test that performed the best. Every patient who has at least one positive test underwent a jejunal biopsy for the diagnosis of CD. No association could be demonstrated between CD and diabetes mellitus. The frequency of CD in Down's syndrome was 7.0%, which is much higher than that found from screening the general population. CD was found in one child with JRA (1.5%), who also had Down's syndrome. We recommend screening for CD in all persons with Down's syndrome using at least the antiendomysium antibody test.

Arthritis, Juvenile↗
PubMed1995

[Symptoms of disease and food allergy in children with Down syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To obtain an impression of how often parents of children with Down's syndrome suspect their children of having a food allergy and what action results from this suspicion. DESIGN: Inventorizing controlled descriptive study. 'Zuid-Holland' in the Netherlands. METHODS: An anonymous questionnaire was sent to 110 parents of children with Down's syndrome and 223 control parents. RESULTS: The parents of children with Down's syndrome reported symptoms of their child which might relate to food allergy more frequently than control parents. They reported more respiratory disease symptoms (62% and 53% respectively; pneumonia: 22% and 3%), more gastrointestinal disease symptoms (28% and 17%; constipation or diarrhoea: 28% and 13%), but fewer skin disease symptoms (12% and 26%). 34% of the parents of Down's syndrome children and 22% of the control parents suspected their child of having an allergy and 13% in both groups suspected food to be the allergenic responsible. Medical and laboratory investigations were performed in 37% and 31% and food allergy was diagnosed in 7% and 31% respectively. No elimination-reïntroduction diet was reported as used for diagnosing. Parents of children with Down's syndrome were less satisfied with their consultation of health workers. All parents in both groups who suspected their children of having a food allergy started an elimination diet, 66% found it had a beneficial effect. CONCLUSION: Compared with control parents, parents of children with Down's syndrome reported symptoms relating to food allergy more frequently, suspected their children of having a food allergy equally often, but had it diagnosed less frequently. However, neither group of parents mentioned that an elimination-provocation test was used for the diagnosis.

Animals↗