Patterns of Nutritional Supplement Use in Children with Tourette Syndrome

Figures & data

Table 1. Demographic characteristics of children with TS and TD children.

Characteristics	TS	TD
N	42	34
Age(y)	M=11.84(SD=3.24)	M=10.32(SD=3.11)
Sex
Male	33	10
Female	9	23
Body mass index z-score	.29	−.36
Medication
Yes	21(53%)	3(9%)
No	20(47%)	31(91%)
Age of diagnosis(y)
3–5	4	–
6–8	18	–
9–11	13	–
12–14	3	–
15+	4	–

Table 2. The number of children who have taken nutritional supplements.

Supplement	TS	TD
Omega-3	7(17%)	1(3%)
Probiotics	8(19%)	0
vitamin C	3(7%)	0
Vitamin B12	1(2%)	1(3%)
vitamin B	2(5%)	0
vitamin D	3(7%)	1(3%)
Selenium	2(5%)	0
Iron	1(2%)	1(3%)
Magnesium	8(19%)	0
Melatonin	6(14%)	0
Multivitamin	8(19%)	2(6%)
Calcium	0	0
Echinacea	0	0
Other	9(21%)	1(3%)

Table 3. The number of children who have adopted special diets.

Special diet	TS	TD
Gluten-free	4(10%)	0
Dairy-free	10(24%)	2(6%)
Yeast-free	0	0
Sugar-free	3(7%)	0
Egg-free	1(2%)	1(3%)
Specific carbohydrate diet	0	0
Feingold diet	0	0
Low GI diet	0	0
Addictive & preservative free	4(10%)	0
Caffeine-free	2(5%)	0
Other	2(5%)	0

Table 4. Reasons for using nutritional supplements and adopting special diets.

	TS		TD
Reason for Use	Supplements	Special diets	Supplements	Special diets
To improve my child’s behavior	11 (26%)	8 (19%)	0	0
To reduce symptoms of TS	26 (62%)	16 (38%)	–	–
To improve my child’s health	27 (64%)	16 (38%)	5 (15%)	1 (3%)
Healthcare professionals’ recommendations	5 (12%)	10 (24%)	0	2 (6%)
To prevent nutritional deficiencies	5 (12%)	0	7 (21%)	0
To reach developmental milestones	0	0	0	0
Other	8 (19%)		0	0

Table 5. Primary sources of information for supplement and special diet use in children with TS and TD children.

	TS		TD
Information sources	Supplements	Special Diets	Supplements	Special diets
Television	1	0	0	0
Website	19	4	1	0
Magazine	2	0	0	0
Parent support group	9	3	0	0
Relatives and friends	7	2	1	1
GP	6	3	3	2
Dietician / Nutritionist	4	2	0	1
Book	3	4	1	0
Alternative healthcare professional	1	2	1	0
Other	4	5	0	0

Table 6. Frequency of informing GP of nutritional supplements and special diet use, and reasons for not.

	TS		TD
	Supplements	Special diets	Supplements	Special diets
Informed GP:
Yes	14(58%)	5(33%)	2(6%)	2(6%)
No	10(42%)	10(67%)	3(9%)	0
Reasons for not informing GP:
GP did not ask	8(19%)	7(17%)	1(3%)	–
Did not think they would approve	1(2%)	0	0	–
Not prescribed medicine	4(10%)	2(5%)	1(3%)	–
Other	7(17%)	5(12%)	+1(3%)	–