Study design (if review, criteria of inclusion for studies)
Parallel design RCT
Participants
20 children with CF and mild to moderate lung disease, aged 7 - 15 years: 20 randomised, 16 studied
Interventions
No intervention in control groups Dietary supplements, drink powders, milk shakes, tinned puddings to achieve 25% of normal energy recommendations in addition to normal diet for six months
Outcome measures
Pulmonary function* and respiratory muscle strength Skeletal muscle strength and power Laboratory measures of nutritional status (e.g. albumin, amino acids) Height*, weight* and anthropometric measurements* Habitual physical activity Dietary energy* and nutrient intake* Energy* and nutrient* intake from supplements Body composition
Main results
Stepwise-regression analysis indicated that changes in skeletal muscle strength and energy intake correlated significantly with growth [weight (kg) = 1.90 - 0.60 (Tanner Stage) + 0.49 (maximum voluntary strength (Nm) + 0.03 (energy intake, % RNI), r = 0.76, P < 0.05], though body composition, protein biochemistry, muscle power, respiratory muscle strength, and use of dietary supplements did not. Thus, changes in skeletal muscle strength may be a functional index of changes in nutritional status in CF. Dietary supplementation per se was not associated with functional improvement.