The Quality of Nutritional Intake in Children with Autism

An abstract of a study by Altenburger et al investigating the quality of nutritional intake in children with autism is presented. Results show that nutrients commonly inadequate were those that are important for bone health, digestion and metabolic pathways, and brain health. Vegetables and dairy were most frequently absent, with only 5 of 24 participants meeting recommended intakes for either group. Thus, great variation and areas of concern in nutrient intakes and food selection patterns were documented in this sample. Individualized nutrition assessment and counseling, especially regarding the use of appropriate supplementation, may be useful for children with autism.