Evaluation of nutrition changes during rapid maxillary expansion in adolescents.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional changes in adolescents undergoing bonded rapid maxillary expansion (RME).

Methods: The study included 30 patients with maxillary posterior crossbite aged 12-16 years (21 girls and 9 boys) who were treated at the Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Adıyaman University. Body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), and 24-hour retrospective food consumption were recorded at 4 different time points (immediately before installation of the RME appliance [T1] and at the first [T2], fourth [T3], and 12th week of treatment [T4]).

Results: The energy, protein, fat, fiber, vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin E, and vitamin C levels at T1 were significantly higher than those at T2, T3, and T4, whereas the protein, carbohydrate, fiber, vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin E, and vitamin C levels at T2 were significantly lower than those at T1, T3, and T4 (P <0.05). BW and BMI at T1 were significantly higher than at T2 (mean decrease: BW, -1.71 ± 0.87; BMI, -0.70 ± 0.33) and T3 (mean decrease: BW, -1.09 ± 0.59; BMI, -0.55 ± 0.26; P <0.05).

Conclusions: Eating habits may change during RME.