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Determination of Nutrient Intake and Dietary Antioxidant Capacity in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case-Control Study
Merve Esra Çıtar Dazıroğlu1, Adviye Gülçin Sağdıçoğlu Celep2
1Nutrition and Dietetics Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Gazi University, Emek, Ankara, Turkey. esracitar@gmail.com.
Insights
Children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) show lower intake of key nutrients and reduced dietary antioxidant capacity compared to peers. Nutritional interventions focusing on antioxidants may help manage ASD symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition impacting social interaction and communication.
- Nutritional status and dietary patterns are increasingly recognized as potential factors influencing ASD symptoms.
- Limited research exists on the specific nutrient intake and antioxidant capacity in children and adolescents with ASD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate and compare the nutrient intake and dietary antioxidant capacity between children and adolescents with ASD and their neurotypical peers.
- To identify specific nutritional deficiencies and assess the antioxidant potential of diets in the ASD population.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 38 children/adolescents with ASD and 38 age/gender-matched controls (aged 6-18 years).
- Data collection included caregiver questionnaires, three-day food consumption records, and antioxidant nutrient questionnaires.
- Statistical analysis compared nutrient intake, dietary insufficiency, and antioxidant capacity between groups.
Main Results:
- Participants with ASD had significantly lower average intake of carbohydrates, vitamin D, calcium, sodium, and selenium compared to controls (p<0.05).
- High rates of dietary insufficiency for fiber, vitamin D, potassium, calcium, and selenium were observed in both groups.
- Dietary antioxidant capacity was significantly lower in participants with ASD (3.2 mmol vs. 4.3 mmol from food records; 3.5 mmol vs. 4.8 mmol from questionnaires, p<0.05).
Conclusions:
- Children and adolescents with ASD exhibit suboptimal nutrient intake, particularly lower levels of carbohydrates, vitamin D, calcium, sodium, and selenium.
- Reduced dietary antioxidant capacity is a notable finding in the ASD group.
- Nutritional counseling and dietary adjustments, emphasizing increased antioxidant intake, may offer a therapeutic strategy for managing ASD symptoms.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutrient intake and dietary antioxidant capacity of children and adolescents with ASD. The study included 38 children and adolescents with ASD aged 6-18 years and 38 gender and age-matched peers without ASD. Caregivers of participants who met inclusion criteria completed a questionnaire form, three-day food consumption record and antioxidant nutrient questionnaire. There were 26 (68.4%) boys and 12 (31.6%) girls in both groups and mean age of participants with and without ASD was 10.9 ± 4.03 years versus 11.1 ± 4.09 years, respectively. The average intake of carbohydrates, vitamin D, calcium, sodium and selenium was lower in participants with ASD than in participants without ASD (p < 0.05). In both groups, dietary fiber, vitamin D, potassium, calcium and selenium intake insufficiency were high, and there was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of carbohydrate, omega 3, vitamin D and sodium intake insufficiency. Considering the antioxidant intakes of the participants, the median value of dietary antioxidant capacity from food consumption record of participants with and without ASD was 3.2 (1.9) mmol versus 4.3 (1.9) mmol, respectively, whereas the dietary antioxidant capacity from antioxidant nutrient questionnaire was 3.5 (2.9) mmol versus 4.8 (2.7) mmol, respectively (p < 0.05). It is predicted that providing nutritional counseling and regulation of diet, especially keeping the antioxidant capacity of diets high, may be effective in reducing some of the symptoms of ASD.
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