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…

This study was conducted to explore the experiences of educators with mealtime behaviours of children with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in schools, and to explore the strategies undertaken in schools to improve nutrition among these children. In-depth interviews were conducted with 13 educators of various special schools across…

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…

This study aims to translate the Brief Autism Mealtime Behaviour Inventory (BAMBI) questionnaire to Brazilian Portuguese, in order to provide a tool to be used in clinic routine that encourages the evaluation of the feeding behaviour of patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The final sample contained 410 participants, the mean age was 9.58…

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…

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…

Estimates suggest that atypical eating is pervasive among children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD); however, much remains unknown regarding the nature and prevalence of feeding problems in this population due to methodological limitations, including lack of adequate assessment methods and empirical evaluation of existing measures. In the…

Many children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have co-occurring feeding problems. However, there is limited knowledge about how these feeding habits are related to other behavioral characteristics ubiquitous in ASD. In a relatively large sample of 256 children with ASD, ages 2-11, we examined the relationships between feeding and mealtime…

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…

Unrecognized gastrointestinal disorders may contribute to the behavioral problems in non-verbal patients, but they are often overlooked since the clinical symptoms are nonspecific. Eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) is a chronic inflammatory disorder manifesting itself predominantly in reflux-type symptoms that do not respond to standard anti-reflux…

Food selectivity and other feeding problems are endemic in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Additionally, many of the challenging behaviors which fall into this category are idiosyncratic to ASD. A technology is beginning to emerge regarding methods to lessen and effectively treat these issues which, if unchecked, can result in poor…

Children with autism and other disabilities frequently do not eat a variety of foods, eating only a few very specific foods. Additionally, many children are extremely resistant to trying different foods and attempts to introduce new foods often result in problem behaviors. This can have serious health implications for some children, as the foods…

Among families who have young children, feeding concerns are quite common (Brazelton, 1992). Feeding concerns can include, but are not limited to, inappropriate mealtime behaviors, lack of self-feeding, food selectivity, and food refusal (Kerwin, 1999). Given the complex nature of assessment of and intervention for feeding concerns in young…