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Reduced bone cortical thickness in boys with autism or autism spectrum disorder

Mary L Hediger1, Lucinda J England, Cynthia A Molloy

  • 1Division-of Epidemiology, Statistics and Prevention Research, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD 20892-7510, USA. hedigerm@exchange.nih.gov

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
|September 20, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Autistic boys show declining bone development with age. Casein-free diets exacerbate this, suggesting monitoring bone health in these children is crucial.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric bone health
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) research
  • Nutritional impacts on development

Background:

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects bone development in children.
  • Dietary interventions, such as casein-free diets, are common in ASD management.
  • Limited data exists on the specific impact of diet on bone health in autistic boys.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess bone development in autistic boys aged 4-8 years.
  • To investigate the influence of casein-free diets on bone cortical thickness (BCT).
  • To determine if dietary restrictions impact bone development in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Evaluated 75 boys with ASD, aged 4-8 years.
  • Measured second metacarpal bone cortical thickness (BCT) using hand-wrist radiographs.
  • Analyzed BCT deviations from reference medians, adjusting for height and diet.

Main Results:

  • Bone cortical thickness (BCT) increased with age, but % deviations showed a significant progressive decline.
  • Boys on casein-free diets exhibited significantly lower BCT % deviations compared to those on unrestricted diets.
  • A notable fall-off in BCT % deviation was observed across ages 4-8, particularly in boys with dietary restrictions.

Conclusions:

  • Bone development in autistic boys warrants monitoring during routine care.
  • Casein-free diets may negatively impact bone development in autistic boys.
  • Further research is needed to understand and mitigate nutritional effects on bone health in ASD.

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