Nutritional Intake and Sensory Processing in School-Aged Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Background: Individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) commonly experience sensory processing that differs from general-population norms, and the autistic lived experience of eating includes preferences for routine, and sensory processing difficulty related to scents, tastes, temperatures, and textures of food. Meanwhile, research indicates that nutrients involved in one-carbon metabolism (OCM) may be related to sensory processing. Methods: This study enrolled 33 school-aged children with autism to assess whether OCM nutrient intake is associated with sensory processing. Parents completed two parent-report assessments: the youth and adult food frequency questionnaire (YAFFQ), and a sensory processing tool, Sensory Profile 2 (SP2). Results: Participant data showed generally good nutritional profiles mirroring those of general-population U.S. children. A group-binarized linear regression model showed the following relationships (p < 0.05): vitamin B12 consumption had a negative association with the SP2 Oral and Sensor domain scores. Choline intake had a positive association with the SP2 Avoider domain score. Vitamin B1 showed a positive association with the SP2 Visual domain score. Conclusions: These results support the possible existence of a relationship between sensory symptoms and OCM nutrient consumption levels in school-aged children diagnosed with autism. Future research is needed to confirm and explore the potential for causality.