Department of Children's and Adolescent Health, College of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China.
Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University United International College, Zhuhai 519087, China.
Nutrients. 2024 Sep 3;16(17):2960. doi: 10.3390/nu16172960.
This study aims to identify potential correlations of the severity of symptoms of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with serum nutritional levels, body composition indicators, diet partiality, and sleep disturbances. The cohort of this cross-sectional study included 120 children with ASD and 110 typically developing (TD) children to assess symptoms of ASD, and to measure serum levels of vitamins and minerals and the body composition values. Diet partiality and sleep disturbances were assessed by administering questionnaires. The serum levels of folic acid, copper, and vitamin B were lower in children with ASD than in TD children, while magnesium and homocysteine were higher ( < 0.05). Children with ASD had greater chest circumference, abdominal skinfold thickness, and body mass index (BMI) than TD children ( < 0.05), and higher prevalences of diet partiality and sleep disturbances ( < 0.001). Lower vitamin A levels and higher vitamin D levels were related to social impairment in children with ASD. Moreover, there were significantly positive correlations of BMI, chest circumference, diet partiality, and sleep disturbances with severity of ASD symptoms ( < 0.05). Collectively, rational nutritional supplementation, dietary management, and behavioral interventions are essential for children with ASD.
本研究旨在探讨自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）患儿症状严重程度与血清营养水平、身体成分指标、饮食偏好和睡眠障碍之间的潜在相关性。本横断面研究纳入了 120 名 ASD 患儿和 110 名典型发育（TD）儿童，以评估 ASD 症状，并测量血清维生素和矿物质水平以及身体成分值。通过问卷调查评估饮食偏好和睡眠障碍。与 TD 儿童相比，ASD 患儿的血清叶酸、铜和维生素 B 水平较低，而镁和同型半胱氨酸水平较高（<0.05）。ASD 患儿的胸围、腹部皮褶厚度和体重指数（BMI）均高于 TD 儿童（<0.05），且饮食偏好和睡眠障碍的发生率较高（<0.001）。较低的维生素 A 水平和较高的维生素 D 水平与 ASD 患儿的社交障碍有关。此外，BMI、胸围、饮食偏好和睡眠障碍与 ASD 症状严重程度呈显著正相关（<0.05）。综上所述，合理的营养补充、饮食管理和行为干预对 ASD 患儿至关重要。
