Differences in food consumption and nutritional intake between children with autism spectrum disorders and typically developing children: A meta-analysis
Abstract
Children with autism spectrum disorders show higher food selectivity, which restricts consumption of some foods and may cause nutritional deficiencies. The aims of this meta-analysis are to determine the overall differences in nutritional intake and food consumption between children with autism spectrum disorder and control (typical development) children, as well as determine the extent to which the nutritional intake and food consumption of autistic children comply with the dietary recommendations. Children with autism spectrum disorder consume less protein (standardized mean difference = -0.27, 95% confidence interval (-0.45, -0.08)), calcium (-0.56 (-0.95, -0.16)), phosphorus (-0.23 (-0.41, -0.04)), selenium (-0.29 (-0.44, -0.13)), vitamin D (-0.34 (-0.57, -0.11)), thiamine (-0.17 (-0.29, -0.05)), riboflavin (-0.25 (-0.45, -0.05)) and vitamin B12 (-0.52 (-0.95, -0.09)) and more polyunsaturated fat acid (0.27 (0.11, 0.44)) and vitamin E (0.28 (0.03, 0.54)) than controls. Autistic children also consume less omega-3 (-0.83 (-1.53, -0.16)) and more fruit (0.35 (0.12, 0.59)) and vegetables (0.35 (0.09, 0.61)) than control children; however, these results must be considered with care due to the low number of studies included in the analysis and the high heterogeneity. The results also suggest a lower intake of calcium, vitamin D and dairy and a higher intake of fruit, vegetables, protein, phosphorus, selenium, thiamine, riboflavin and vitamin B12 than recommended.
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Sharp et al. (2013) and Esteban-Figuerola et al. (2019) reported a lower intake of calcium and protein in autistic children compared with a control group.
“Sharp et al. (2013) [15] and Esteban-Figuerola et al. (2019) [51] have reported a lower intake of calcium and protein in autistic children compared with a control group”
From Dietary Patterns, Eating Behavior, and Nutrient Intakes of Spanish Preschool Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (2021) · cites this paper as [51]
Children with ASD have lower protein intake.
“Children with ASD were shown to have a lower protein intake, and their diets may be low in micronutrients [47,48].”
Diets of children with ASD may be low in micronutrients.
“Children with ASD were shown to have a lower protein intake, and their diets may be low in micronutrients [47,48].”
The characteristic pattern of behaviours, needs, and sensitivities associated with autism can give rise to a limited food repertoire, specific sensory preferences, and rigid rules regarding mealtimes.
“The characteristic pattern of behaviours, needs, and sensitivities associated with autism can give rise to a limited food repertoire, specific sensory preferences, and rigid rules regarding mealtimes.”
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 [13]
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Esteban-Figuerola, P., Canals, J., Fernández-Cao, J. C., & Arija Val, V.
- Affiliations
- Institut de Recerca Biomèdica Catalunya Sud (ES)
- Nutrition and Mental Health Research Group (NUTRISAM)., Rovira i Virgili University (URV)., Tarragona, Spain
- Venue
- Autism
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2018-10-21
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 1079-1095
- ISSN
- 1362-3613 (ISSN-L)
- 1461-7005
- OpenAlex
- W2897063962
- Cited by
- 181
- References
- 61
- Citations by year
- 2026: 19 · 2025: 33 · 2024: 36 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 6
- FWCI
- 1.89
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Update notices
- correction (2020-01-13)
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Autism (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, picky eating, nutritional intake, dietary intake, protein intake, calcium intake, vitamin D, vitamin B12, omega-3 fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, fruit and vegetable intake, dietary recommendations, children
- MeSH terms
- Autism Spectrum Disorder, Adolescent, Calcium, Dietary, Child, Child, Preschool, Diet, Dietary Fats, Dietary Fats, Unsaturated, Dietary Proteins, Eating, Feeding Behavior, Food Preferences, Fruit, Humans, Infant, Riboflavin, Selenium, Thiamine, Trace Elements, Vegetables, Vitamin B 12, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamins, Fatty Acids, Omega-3, Case-Control Studies, Phosphorus, Dietary, Nutrition Policy
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