Special Diets, Supplements Not Always Helpful for Kids With Autism
Special Diets, Supplements Not Always Helpful for Kids With Autism
These interventions are often tied to too little, or too much of certain nutrients, study finds
FRIDAY, June 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Well-intentioned parents of children with autism may think that special diets or supplements can help their child, but a new study suggests that often these efforts lead to problems.
As the researchers explain, many children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are picky eaters, and parents may direct them to nutritional supplements, or gluten- or casein-free diets.
However, the study reported June 4 in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found that these regimens leave children still deficient in some nutrients, such as calcium. On the other hand, special diets and supplements can cause children to take in excessive amounts of other nutrients, such as vitamin A, the researchers said.
"Each patient needs to be individually assessed for potential nutritional deficiencies or excess," study lead researcher Patricia Stewart, assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, N.Y., said in a journal news release.
One other expert agreed.
"Children with an autism spectrum disorder are not very different nutritionally from non-ASD children," said Dr. Andrew Adesman, chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at the Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York, in New Hyde Park, N.Y.
"Giving children with an autism spectrum disorder a multivitamin/mineral supplement will not correct many of the nutritional deficiencies seen in these children," he added, "and may in fact lead to excess amounts of some nutrients in the bloodstream."
The new study involved 368 children aged 2 to 11 years who were treated at five different Autism Speaks specialty centers. Autism Speaks is a nonprofit organization that sponsors autism research and conducts awareness and outreach activities.
The study participants had all been diagnosed with autism, Asperger's syndrome or another so-called "pervasive developmental disorder." The children's caregivers kept a three-day food diary, which recorded the amounts of food the kids ate as well as the drinks and supplements they took.
After analyzing the children's food diaries, the researchers found the kids with an ASD were consuming amounts of nutrients that were similar to other children who did not have autism. They also had the same deficiencies often seen in the general population.
Diets, Supplements May Not Help Kids With Autism
These interventions are often tied to too little, or too much of certain nutrients, study finds
FRIDAY, June 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Well-intentioned parents of children with autism may think that special diets or supplements can help their child, but a new study suggests that often these efforts lead to problems.
As the researchers explain, many children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are picky eaters, and parents may direct them to nutritional supplements, or gluten- or casein-free diets.
However, the study reported June 4 in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found that these regimens leave children still deficient in some nutrients, such as calcium. On the other hand, special diets and supplements can cause children to take in excessive amounts of other nutrients, such as vitamin A, the researchers said.
"Each patient needs to be individually assessed for potential nutritional deficiencies or excess," study lead researcher Patricia Stewart, assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, N.Y., said in a journal news release.
One other expert agreed.
"Children with an autism spectrum disorder are not very different nutritionally from non-ASD children," said Dr. Andrew Adesman, chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at the Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York, in New Hyde Park, N.Y.
"Giving children with an autism spectrum disorder a multivitamin/mineral supplement will not correct many of the nutritional deficiencies seen in these children," he added, "and may in fact lead to excess amounts of some nutrients in the bloodstream."
The new study involved 368 children aged 2 to 11 years who were treated at five different Autism Speaks specialty centers. Autism Speaks is a nonprofit organization that sponsors autism research and conducts awareness and outreach activities.
The study participants had all been diagnosed with autism, Asperger's syndrome or another so-called "pervasive developmental disorder." The children's caregivers kept a three-day food diary, which recorded the amounts of food the kids ate as well as the drinks and supplements they took.
After analyzing the children's food diaries, the researchers found the kids with an ASD were consuming amounts of nutrients that were similar to other children who did not have autism. They also had the same deficiencies often seen in the general population.
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