Comparison of energy and nutrient intake, dietary diversity score and physical development between children with Williams syndrome and neurotypical developing children

Introduction: Objective: a comparison of energy nutrients, dietary diversity scores (DDS), and physical development (BMIZ, WZ, HZ) between children with Williams syndrome (WS) and neurotypical (NT) developing children. Methods: children with WS and NT who visited the Child Health Care Department of Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine from January to September 2023 were collected and divided into three age groups (1-3 years, 3-6 years, and > 6 years). The dietary intake and physical development of children with WS and NT were compared. Results: there were statistically significant differences in total energy, protein, and carbohydrate intake, as well as carbohydrate intake percentage and DDS total score among the three groups of WS children (p < 0.05). Compared to age-matched NT children, the 1-3 years-old WS children had a lower DDS total score; the 3-6 years-old WS children had lower BMIZ, WZ, total energy intake, fat intake, carbohydrate intake, and fat intake percentage; and the > 6 years-old WS children had lower fat intake, protein and fat intake percentages, and DDS total score (p < 0.05). Conclusion: the findings underscore the necessity of monitoring and improving the nutritional status and eating habits of WS children across different age groups.