Nutrient intake and meal-time behavior of children with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by challenges in social communication and relationships, as well as restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests and/or activities diagnosed in early childhood. Feeding and mealtime challenges, such as delayed self-feeding skills, food selectivity or aversions, and prolonged meal duration, occur more frequently in children with ASD compared to children with neurotypical development (ND). Children with ASD have also been reported to have deficits in intake of several essential vitamins and minerals. The purpose of this study was to examine association between nutrient intake and mealtime behaviors in children with ASD compared to children with ND. ☐ The data presented in this thesis are part of a larger, ongoing study entitled “Parental Stress, Parental Feeding Styles and Child Nutrient Intake Among Families of Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder”. Parents of children at least three years old but less than seven years old, with ASD and with ND, were recruited to participate in this cross-sectional, observational study. Participants attended one study visit at the Energy Balance and Nutrition Laboratory at the University of Delaware or a mutually agreed upon location, to complete questionnaires related to parental feeding styles, feeding practices, child mealtime behaviors, parental stress, and adaptive behaviors (only for children with ASD). Child diet intake was assessed by three-day diet records and converted to nutrient intake data using Nutrition Data Software for Research (NDS-R). ☐ To date, a total of 30 subjects (10 children with ASD, 20 children with ND) have completed the study. Given the present sample size and the ongoing nature of the study, the following results are considered preliminary. There were no statistically significant differences in child or parent demographic characteristics between children with ASD and children with ND. With respect to diet and nutrient intake, there were no statistically significant differences in macronutrient or micronutrient intake between children with ASD and children with ND. Meal-time behavior scores (mean±SD) were higher for children with ASD compared to children with ND: child meal-time behavior frequency (children with ASD: 57.90±11.4 versus children with ND: 46.10±7.8; p=0.011), child meal-time problems (children with ASD: 7.30±5.9 versus children with ND: 2.62±3.1; p=0.031), and parent feeling/strategies (children with ASD 3.20±3.0, children with ND: 0.55±1.14, p=0.015). With respect to associations between nutrient intake and meal-time behaviors, an inverse relationship was observed between vitamin C intake and child behavior frequency and parent feelings/strategies frequency scores in children with ASD (r= -0.632 and r= -0.634, respectively; p<0.05), but not in children with ND. These results are preliminary; enrollment is ongoing, and the study aims will be re-evaluated upon study completion.