Growth and nutrition in 10 girls with Rett syndrome.

Cross-sectional and retrospective data on growth and anthropometric outcome, feeding problems and dietary intake are presented for 10 girls between three and 16 years of age with Rett syndrome. All girls had birth weight and length within the normal range for gestational age and development was considered normal until six to 24 months of age. The girls presented a fall off in linear growth during the first two years of life and at the time of study, all but one had height and/or weight for height below the 2.5th percentile of healthy children. The girls had good appetite but could not eat by themselves and oral-motor dysfunctions were common. The mean energy intake was 66.9% of the US recommendations according to age and 107.8% of the recommendations according to body weight. The intakes of thiamin, vitamin D, calcium and iron were considered low. None was anaemic. Different nutritional intervention strategies should be investigated to reduce and, if possible, prevent malnutrition and wasting in girls with Rett syndrome.