Correlation between Nutrition and Symptoms: Nutritional Survey of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Chongqing, China

Abstract

Restricted diets and inadequate nutrient intake of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been reported. This study examined the nutritional statuses of children with ASD and the relationships between their behaviors and nutritional intake. A total of 154 children with ASD (age = 5.21 ± 1.83 years) and 73 typically-developing (TD) children (age = 4.83 ± 0.84 years) from Chongqing, China, were enrolled. The severity of ASD was evaluated using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). The serum ferritin, folate, vitamin B12, 25(OH) vitamin D, and vitamin A concentrations in the children with ASD were determined. All participants underwent anthropometric examinations, dietary assessments, and questionnaire assessments about their feeding behaviors, and gastrointestinal symptoms. The ZHA, ZWA, and ZBMIA were found to be significantly lower in the children with ASD compared with those without ASD. In addition, the percentages of children exhibiting severe picky eating and severe resistance to new foods, as well as those with a reported general impression of severe eating problems and constipation, were higher among the children with ASD. These children consumed significantly fewer macronutrients compared with the children without ASD. In addition, the children with ASD had the highest rate of vitamin A deficiency, followed by iron deficiency. After adjusting for sex, the vitamin A concentration was found to be negatively correlated with the CARS score (rs = −0.222, p = 0.021). No correlation between the ferritin, folate, vitamin D, or vitamin B12 concentration and the CARS score was found. These results suggest that reduced macronutrient intakes, severe feeding behavior issues, constipation, and vitamin A deficiency are quite common among children with ASD. Further, a low serum vitamin A level may be a risk factor for symptoms of ASD. However, the underlying mechanism should be further studied.

Lack of effect of vitamin D3supplementation in autism: a 20-week, placebo-controlled RCT

“…We investigated the effect of vitamin D 3 supplementation (2000 IU/day) for 20 weeks among a small sample of urban, mostly Caucasian children with clinician-diagnosed ASD at high latitude over winter season. In contrast to most11 26 27 but not all previous reports,21 there was no difference between VDD and VDS groups regarding ASD parameters at baseline. There was a significant increase in vitamin D status in the D 3 group.…”

The association between malnutrition and childhood disability in low‐ and middle‐ income countries: systematic review and meta‐analysis of observational studies

“…Studies in the final sample for analysis were categorised by type of disability. 'Neurodevelopmental' disability was the largest category, containing nine studies (53%) [38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45]. There were five studies that considered multiple disability diagnoses, but that reported data overall for children with disabilities as a group, so were included in a 'general disability' (29%) category.…”

Consumo de ultraprocessados e estado nutricional de crianças com transtorno do espectro do autismo

“…Em um estudo comparativo, realizado com crianças com TEA e sem TEA atendidas em um hospital no Norte da Índia, observou-se que as crianças com TEA apresentaram aversão a frutas e vegetais (17) . Estudos apontam que as crianças com TEA têm preferências por alimentos a base de amido, lanches e alimentos ultraprocessados, e apresentam relutância ao consumo de frutas e vegetais (18)(19)(20) .…”