1. A Feasibility Study of Nutritional Status and Bone Health in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Food Selectivity
- Author
-
Wenzell, Megan L., Kindler, Joseph Michael, Sharp, William G., Loechner, Karen, Gillespie, Scott, Burrell, Teresa Lindsey, Berry, Rashelle, Scahill, Lawrence, and Brasher, Susan
- Subjects
Eating disorders ,Alfacalcidol ,Calcifediol ,Vitamin D ,Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid ,Bones -- Density ,Children -- Health aspects ,Autism ,Health ,Emory University. School of Medicine - Abstract
Background: Food selectivity (FS), accompanied by nutritional inadequacies, is a common complaint in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The impact of FS on bone mineral density (BMD) in children with ASD and FS, however, is not well documented. We evaluated the feasibility of assessing BMD in children with ASD. The sample included children with mild FS and children with moderate or greater FS. We also explored the impact of FS on BMD. Method: Boys with ASD (N = 20, age = 8.4 [+ or -] 1.47 years) were divided into two groups: 10 mild FS and 10 moderate/severe FS. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measured total body (less head) and lumbar spine BMD. BMD Z-scores used reference datasets adjusted for height-for-age (HAZ). Biochemical indices and intake of calcium and vitamin D were collected. Pearson correlations examined associations, and t tests examined group differences in diet, biochemical indices, and BMD. Results: Of the children enrolled, 85% (17 of 20) completed the DXA lumbar spine scan, and 70% (14 of 20) completed the DXA total body scan. No associations among biochemical markers of 25-OH vitamin D and calcium were identified in the full sample. Total body [BMD.sub.HAZ] Z-scores were positively correlated with calcium intake in the mild FS group (r = 0.89, p = 0.017) and negatively correlated with vitamin D intake in the moderate/severe FS group (r = -0.93, p = 0.022). Unadjusted total body BMD Z-scores were lower in the moderate/severe FS group compared to the mild FS group (t = 2.30, p = 0.040). Conclusions: The collection of completed and usable DXA scans supports the feasibility of using DXA scans to measure BMD in children with ASD and FS. A larger study of children with ASD compared to non-ASD controls is needed to examine the impact of FS on BMD. Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder, bone mineral density, nutritional status, food selectivity., Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), characterized by impaired social communication, repetitive behaviors, and sensory sensitivity, affects an estimated 2.3% of children (1 in 44) in the United States (Maenner et al., [...]
- Published
- 2024