[Dietetic and anthropometric assessment in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis patients].

OBJECTIVES

to evaluate the dietary intake and the anthropometry of children and adolescents with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis - JRA, considering the pauciarticular and the polyarticular types.

METHODS

Evaluation of the dietary intake of calories and macronutrients by the Food Register method compared with the Recommended Dietary Allowances - RDA, and the anthropometric evaluation by the z score of the height-for-age relationship and body mass index.

RESULTS

The pauciarticular or polyarticular type did not determine any difference in calories, carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids intake, being the total caloric value, in both groups, bellow recommendations. Low-stature was observed in patients of the 2 groups, while leanness and obesity status were found in patients of the polyarticular group.

CONCLUSIONS

JRA patients, particularly of the polyarticular group, can present compromised nutritional status and growth, probably owing to an inadequate dietary intake and increased need of calories and specific nutrients, which occur during the periods of the disease's activity.