Nutritional status in 32 children with Williams syndrome

WANG Shasha; JI Chai; LI Fangfang; GUO Junxia; SHEN Jiyang; CHEN Weijun

doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2025-1061

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Chinese Journal of Child Health Care ›› 2026, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (4) : 406-410. DOI: 10.11852/zgetbjzz2025-1061

Special Column on Nutrition/Feeding and Allergic Diseases

Nutritional status in 32 children with Williams syndrome

WANG Shasha, JI Chai, LI Fangfang, GUO Junxia, SHEN Jiyang, CHEN Weijun

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Abstract

Objective To characterize nutritional status of children with Williams syndrome (WS), so as to provide clinical evidence for standardized nutritional management. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in children with genetically confirmed WS who attended the Children′s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, from March to September 2023.Forty-two children were enrolled; 4 did not complete the dietary survey and 6 were excluded due to incomplete dietary records, leaving 32 children for the anthropometric and dietary analysis.Nutritional risk was assessed using STRONGkids.Height and weight were measured, and Z-scores were calculated based on the WHO 2006 growth standards using WHO Anthro/AnthroPlus, including height-for-age Z score (HAZ), weight-for-height Z score (WHZ,<5 years old), and BMI-for-age Z score (BAZ, ≥5 years old).Wasting was defined as WHZ/BAZ<-2 and stunting as HAZ<-2; either criterion indicated malnutrition.Dietary intake was assessed using 3-day food records.Daily mean energy and macronutrient intakes were calculated with nutrition software, and adequacy was expressed as intake/age- and sex-specific DRIs ×100%;<80% was considered inadequate. Results Among the 32 children, 24 (75.0%) were male and 8 (25.0%) were female, with a mean age of 3.88 years old.STRONGkids indicated moderate risk in 13 (40.6%) children and high risk in 19 (59.4%) children.Malnutrition was identified in 12 (37.5%) children.Inadequate intake was observed for energy in 27 (84.4%) children, carbohydrate in 29 (90.6%) children, fat in 23 (71.9%) children, and protein in 4 (12.5%) children. Conclusions Children with WS have a high nutritional risk and a considerable prevalence of malnutrition, along with widespread inadequacy of energy and macronutrient intake.Long-term nutritional assessment and individualized interventions are warranted to improve the nutritional outcome.

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Williams syndrome / nutritional status / energy nutrients / malnutrition / dietary survey / children

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WANG Shasha, JI Chai, LI Fangfang, GUO Junxia, SHEN Jiyang, CHEN Weijun. Nutritional status in 32 children with Williams syndrome[J]. Chinese Journal of Child Health Care. 2026, 34(4): 406-410 https://doi.org/10.11852/zgetbjzz2025-1061

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