Autism-Open Access
Open Access
ISSN: 2165-7890
ISSN: 2165-7890
Alan Gutierrez
Tanzania
Research Article
Analysis of Dietary Intake in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Author(s): Kelly Barnhill, Alan Gutierrez, S Nathan Marti, Laura Hewitson
Kelly Barnhill, Alan Gutierrez, S Nathan Marti, Laura Hewitson
Parents and caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often report that their children are picky, restricted, and problem eaters. Additionally, it has been reported that children with ASD often experience gastrointestinal problems such as constipation, diarrhea, flatulence, cramping, bloating, and diffuse pain. These factors raise concern for nutritional status of children with ASD, given that the refusal to consume particular foods coupled with the inability to tolerate, digest, and absorb these foods can compromise an individual’s overall nutrition status. The aim of our study was to evaluate dietary intake in a group of 120 children aged 2-14 years who were served in an outpatient clinic over 18 months’ time. Anthropometric data and 3-day food diaries were collected and evaluated by a licensed, registered dietician. The results indicate that the majorit.. View More»
DOI:
10.4172/2165-7890.1000154