Background: Nutrition is important in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Because nutritional problems of children with ASD can lead to nutritional deficiencies and this can also directly or indirectly affect symptoms related to autism. We investigated the effect of diet and supplementation treatments on gastrointestinal, behavioral or sleep problems…

Some research suggests that GI symptoms seen in children with ASD may relate to behavior problems. The objective of this pilot study was to assess the effect of the low fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAP) diet on GI and behavioral problems in children with ASD. At follow-up, the low FODMAP diet group…

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an etiologically heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition that eludes a single explanation or cure. Epidemiological studies reveal risk factors, relevant comorbidities, and behavioral correlates to reach a better understanding of ASD. To contribute such data from an understudied ASD population, this paper…

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a rare, but serious, metabolic disease that can cause a variety of neurological, psychological, and academic complications. Fortunately, many individuals with PKU who are identified and treated early can go on to live a relatively normal life. However, PKU does continue to present with a variety of complex underlying…

To determine whether a gluten-free diet (GFD) compared with a gluten-containing diet (GD) influences functioning of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), we performed a randomized, controlled, single-blinded trial. Sixty-six children (36-69 months) with ASD, within the normal IQ (> 70) range, who had been on a GFD for at least 8 weeks…

Research literature on dietary patterns & eating habits of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in India is limited. To explore this, a pilot study (n = 53) which included 45 boys and 8 girls (age group of 2-13 years) was conducted. Three day food records, Food Frequency Questionnaire and Children Eating Behavior Inventory were used to…

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the combined effects of perceptual-motor exercises and vitamin D[subscript 3] supplementation on the reduction of stereotypical behavior in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods: In this study, 100 eligible children with age ranging from 6 to 9 years were randomly selected and…

Introduction: Diet and dietary interventions have drawn considerable attention in the literature as etiopathogenic factors and therapeutic approaches to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), respectively. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of a gluten-free, casein-free (GFCF) diet on the alterations of behavior in children and…

The purpose of the study was to establish the vitamin-mineral status of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) who exhibit attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Four research questions were formulated for the study. A quasi-experimental of ex post facto research design was used. The study was conducted in four special schools and…

Objective: "MyPlate," a tool for communicating the federal nutrition guidelines in the USA, may contribute to healthy diets and behaviours, yet whether and how it is used by teachers and school principals is unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine (1) the prevalence of using nutrition lessons and MyPlate guidelines by K-12…

This study examined the association between dietary habits and behavioural problems at school among adolescents in Norway. Participants in this study included 517 adolescents and 336 of their parents. Students attended schools in the south of Norway, where the study was conducted. In 2012, adolescents completed a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ)…

Numerous research studies have been completed on the topic of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). As individuals with this diagnosis are frequently treated by occupational therapists, this review will focus on research that has been completed on ASD that will provide insights into the understanding and treatment of children on the spectrum.

Introduction: Social support is important for behavior change, and it may be particularly important for the complexities of changing multiple risk behaviors (MRB). Research is needed to determine if participants in an MRB intervention can be encouraged to activate their social network to aid their change efforts. Methods: Healthy Directions 2, a…

To obtain information on the safety and efficacy of the gluten-free/casein-free (GFCF) diet, we placed 14 children with autism, age 3-5 years, on the diet for 4-6 weeks and then conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled challenge study for 12 weeks while continuing the diet, with a 12-week follow-up. Dietary challenges were delivered via weekly…

Prenatal multivitamin/folic acid supplement use may reduce the risk of autism spectrum disorders. We investigated whether 2nd trimester prenatal vitamin use and maternal whole blood folate (WBF) concentrations were associated with Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) scores at 4-5 years of age in a prospective cohort of 209 mother-child pairs. After…