Dietary fiber intake for children and adolescents with chronic constipation: Influence of mother or caretaker and relationship with overweight

Objective: To evaluate the influence of the mother or caretaker on the consumption of dietary fiber by children and adolescents with chronic constipation and its relationship with the occurrence of overweight. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 38 children and adolescents with functional constipation and their respective caretakers. A three-day food register was used for the analysis of the dietary fiber consumption. Weight and height were measured to verify the nutritional status. Familiar history of constipation was investigated. Results: Most patients with constipation (89.5%; 34/38) presented insufficient fiber consumption (less than age+5g). Out of 38, only 1 (2.6%) caretaker presented fiber ingestion greater than the minimum recommendation (20g/day). Overweight was found in 11/38 (28.9%) patients and 23/38 (60.5%) caretakers. An association between overweight and the presence of constipation was verified among caretakers (p=0.046). For female children and adolescents there was an association between overweight and lower fiber ingestion (p=0.011). This association was not observed for male patients. The consumption of fiber by caretakers with overweight was lower than those without overweight (p=0.027). There was correlation between the consumption of fiber in constipated children and their caretakers for male (r=+0.561; p=0.005) and female patients (r=+0.782; p<0.001). Conclusions: There was a relationship between the consumption of dietary fiber by children and adolescents with chronic constipation and their caretakers. In females, the insufficient consumption of fiber was associated with overweight and with the presence of constipation.