Assessment of nutrient intake of patients with cystic fibrosis compared with healthy children.

The food intakes of 40 patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) (0.7 to 23 years) on low-fat diets were assessed in relation to the appropriate recommended dietary allowance (RDA) and intakes of healthy children. Mean energy intakes of the subjects with CF were similar to the control groups but fell well short of the frequently cited goal of 120-150 per cent of the RDA. Failure to achieve this may account for their marked growth failure. The study highlights the inability of CF patients to maintain a high energy intake despite nutritional counselling when dietary fat is restricted. When energy per kg body weight was considered, children with CF ate more than their peers and it may be unrealistic to expect them to increase their spontaneous oral intake above this level.