Abstract: Objective To investigate the condition of nutrition in child with cerebral palsy (CP) and the effect of nutritional intervention. Methods 49 CP children and other 60 health children (controls) were measured their bodies, hemoglobin, serum trace elements, and bone mineral density (with ultrasonic), and the feeding behavior was also investigated. Results The incidence of malnutrition was 48.97%, in which 26.53% for low weight. The levels of serum iron and zinc were poor in the CP children, and the incidence of iron deficiency anemia was 34.67% in the CP children, different from the controls (P<0.05), while the incidence of low bone mineral density was 30.61%, not significantly different from the controls (P>0.05). Feeding problems were found in 44.9% of CP children. About 50% of malnutrition was corrected, especially the body weight after 4 months of Intervention, with anemia corrected in 88.2%, and bone mineral density recovered in 50%. Conclusion It is a problem for many CP children with malnutrition and nutritional disorders, and need nutrition intervention as the content of the rehabilitation.

Key words: cerebral palsy, nutrition, trace elements, intervention