Vitamin B Deficiencies in a Critically Ill Autistic Child With a Restricted Diet
Abstract
An 11‐year‐old male with autism became less responsive and was hospitalized with hepatomegaly and liver dysfunction, as well as severe lactic acidosis. His diet for several years was self‐limited exclusively to a single “fast food”—a particular type of fried chicken—and was deficient in multiple micronutrients, including the B vitamins thiamine and pyridoxine. Lactic acidosis improved rapidly with thiamine; 2 weeks later, status epilepticus—with low serum pyridoxine—resolved rapidly with pyridoxine. Dietary B vitamin deficiencies complicated the care of this critically ill autistic child and should be considered in this setting.
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There is reliable evidence to suggest that ARFID and severe food restriction in children and young people with autism is associated with a greater risk of poor health outcomes.
“There is reliable evidence to suggest that ARFID and severe food restriction in children and young people with autism is associated with a greater risk of poor health outcomes.59,[61][62][63][64][65]”
From Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder and Severe Food Selectivity in Children and Young People with Autism: A Scoping Review (2022) · cites this paper as [62]
Extreme cases may require enteral feeding via the alimentary canal or parenteral feeding to deliver nutritional support.
“Extreme cases may require enteral feeding via the alimentary canal (e.g.nasogastric, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy) or, occasionally, parenteral feeding, which is typically intravenous, may be required to deliver nutritional support.37,62,75,76”
From Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder and Severe Food Selectivity in Children and Young People with Autism: A Scoping Review (2022) · cites this paper as [62]
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- Authors
- Baird, J. S., & Ravindranath, T. M.
- Affiliations
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center (US)
- Columbia University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Baird, J. Scott
- Venue
- Nutrition in Clinical Practice
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2014-08-11
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 100-103
- ISSN
- 0884-5336 (ISSN-L)
- 1941-2452
- OpenAlex
- W1977870236
- Cited by
- 23
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2
- FWCI
- 0.43
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Nutrition in Clinical Practice (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Alcoholism and Thiamine Deficiency
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Clinical Nutrition and Gastroenterology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
- Keywords
- vitamin B deficiency, autism spectrum disorder, restrictive diets, thiamine deficiency, vitamin B6 deficiency, lactic acidosis, hepatomegaly, liver dysfunction, status epilepticus, critically ill children, micronutrient deficiency
- MeSH terms
- Acidosis, Lactic, Autistic Disorder, Child, Diet, Feeding Behavior, Hepatomegaly, Humans, Liver Diseases, Male, Pyridoxine, Status Epilepticus, Thiamine, Thiamine Deficiency, Vitamin B Deficiency, Critical Illness, Fast Foods
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