Nutritional characteristics of patients with functional constipation aged 4 years and over

Constipation is one of the most common complaints of the digestive system in adults and children, accounting for 3% to 5% of visits to pediatric clinics and 29.6% of visits to pediatric gastroenterologists. The aim of this study is to determine the nutritional characteristics and risk factors of the constipated children by comparing the 5-day dietary schedule and some demographic characteristics of patients with constipated and non-constipated group. In the obtained data, it is thought that children can avoid complications due to unneeded treatment and constipation, by taking the necessary measure about feeding in children. A total of 96 patients, 41 patients with functional constipation and 55 healthy children, were included in the study. Children in the constipation and control groups were divided into 3 groups according to age, 4-7, 8-11 and 12-18 years. The mean age of the patients in the functional constipation group was 9.08 ± 3.55, and the mean age of the children in the control group was 9.09 ± 3.71 years. Twenty-five (61%) of the constipation group and 27 (49.1%) of the control group were female. The female to male ratio was 1.5 / 1. Nutritional assessment questionnaires including demographic data, were given to the families of constipation and control group; A 5-day diet content was requested to be recorded, and diet list was then evaluated by a experienced dietitian and the 5-day median intake of all the foods included in the diets were determined; the same questionnaire was given to the family of 55 healthy children without functional constipation and other organic disease and the nutritional characteristics of the groups were compared with each other. At the same time the average intake of major nutrients in both groups were compared with reference values for Turkey. In assessing nutrient intake of constipation and control groups, no difference was detected in energy, liquid and fiber consumption of the groups. In the 4-7 age group constipated girls, the percentage of carbohydrate consumed in food , carotene and vitamin C was found to be higher; In the 4-7 age group of control girls, the percent of fat consumed in food and vitamin B12 was high. İn the 8-11 age control group girls pantothenic acid, vitamin C and long-chain fatty acid consumption, in 4-7 age control group boys percent of fat consumed in foods, vitamin E, vitamin K, manganese, iodide, polyunsaturated and long chain fatty acids was higher significantly. In the control group the frequency of defecation during the first year, the frequency of breastfeeding for more than 18 months, the frequency of closet-type toilet users were significantly higher than the constipation group; family income level and parental education level were higher in the control group. Findings in our study indicate that dietary factors play an important role in the development of constipation, especially in the 4-7 age group, that education levels of parents are one of the most important risk factors in the development of constipation, and it is possible that breastfeeding for more than 18 months may protect against the development of constipation in the long term.