Author, as appears in the article.: Arija V; Esteban-Figuerola P; Morales-Hidalgo P; Jardí C; Canals-Sans J
Department: Psicologia Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques
URV's Author/s: Arija Val, Maria Victoria / Canals Sans, Josefa / Esteban Figuerola, Patricia / Jardí Piñana, Cristina / Morales Hidalgo, Paula
Keywords: Vitamin Primary school children Preschool children Nutrition/feeding Mineral Feeding problems Autism spectrum disorder vitamin primary school children prevalence preschool children participation overweight nutritional-status nutrition mineral food feeding dietary-intake consumption age-children adolescents
Abstract: This article assesses nutritional intake and adequacy in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), subdiagnostic autistic symptoms and children with typical development (TD). In total, 77 children diagnosed with ASD, 40 with subdiagnostic autistic symptoms and 333 children with TD were assessed. A validated food frequency questionnaire was used. Very few nutritional differences were found between ASD and TD groups. Preschool children with ASD and subdiagnostic autistic symptoms had slightly lower intake of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), vitamin D and vitamin B12, and primary school children with ASD and subdiagnostic autistic symptoms had slightly higher intake of protein, cholesterol, thiamine and niacin, and a higher percentage of obesity than children with TD. All samples had an unbalanced energy intake (high in added sugars, fats and saturated fatty acids (SFAs); extremely inadequate intake (80%–100%) of vitamins D and E; high intake (50%–80%) of fibre, b-carotene (except preschool children with TD), calcium (except preschool children) and magnesium). The fact that differences between diagnoses are scarce may be related to the low level of ASD severity in this school sample. Lay abstract: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a fivefold elevated risk of developing eating problems, which predisposes them to nutritional deficiencies. This study assesses nutritional intake and adequacy in children with ASD, subdiagnostic autistic symptoms and typically developing (TD) children. Preschool children with ASD and subdiagnostic symptoms had slightly lower intake of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), vitamin D and vitamin B12. Primary school children with ASD and subdiagnostic symptoms had slightly higher intake of protein, cholesterol, thiamine and niacin, and a higher percentage of obesity than children with TD. All children had a high intake in sugars, fats and saturated fatty acids; a very highly inadequate intake of vitamins (vitamins D and E), fibre, b-carotene, calcium and magnesium; and a moderately inadequate intake of vitamin C, folate and iron. However, although all children need nutrition advice, children with ASD and subdiagnostic autistic symptoms had a poorer quality diet than those with TD.
Thematic Areas: Psychology, developmental Psychology Psicología Medicina ii General medicine Developmental and educational psychology Ciencias sociales
licence for use: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/
Author's mail: paula.morales@urv.cat cristina.jardi@urv.cat josefa.canals@urv.cat victoria.arija@urv.cat
Author identifier: 0000-0002-7946-1488 0000-0002-6209-9558 0000-0002-1758-0975
Record's date: 2024-08-03
Papper version: info:eu-repo/semantics/submittedVersion
Licence document URL: https://repositori.urv.cat/ca/proteccio-de-dades/
Papper original source: Autism. 27 (2): 371-388
APA: Arija V; Esteban-Figuerola P; Morales-Hidalgo P; Jardí C; Canals-Sans J (2023). Nutrient intake and adequacy in children with autism spectrum disorder: EPINED epidemiological study. Autism, 27(2), 371-388. DOI: 10.1177/13623613221098237
Entity: Universitat Rovira i Virgili
Journal publication year: 2023
Publication Type: Journal Publications
Repositori URV