Dietary status and impact of risperidone on nutritional balance in children with autism: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Risperidone may be effective in improving tantrums, aggression, or self-injurious behaviour in children with autism, but often leads to weight gain.


METHODS
Using a quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), we prospectively examined the nutritional intake of 20 children with autism participating in a randomised placebo-controlled trial of risperidone for disruptive behaviours.


RESULTS
At baseline, the mean intakes for macronutrients, vitamins and minerals exceeded Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). However there was substantial inter-participant variability, with individual deficiencies (<80% of DRI) in the intake of calcium (9 of 20 participants), pantothenic acid (6 of 20), vitamin D (5 of 20) and vitamin K (8 of 20). For the participants for whom FFQs were available, there was an increase in weight and an increase in vitamin K intake after 2 months of risperidone treatment (n = 9) compared to placebo (n = 8). An additional 4 months of risperidone treatment (n = 8) did not result in significant changes in reported nutritional balance.


CONCLUSIONS
These pilot data suggest that treatment with risperidone did not significantly affect the nutritional balance of this small group of children.
Lindsay
Ronald L
RL
Children's Health Center of St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Arizona 85013, USA. rlindsay@chw.edu
Eugene Arnold
L
L
Aman
Michael G
MG
Vitiello
Benedetto
B
Posey
David J
DJ
McDougle
Christopher J
CJ
Scahill
Lawrence
L
Pachler
Maryellen
M
McCracken
James T
JT
Tierney
Elaine
E
Bozzolo
Dawn
D
D000293:Adolescent; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D015930:Diet Records; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000187:drug effects*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018967:Risperidone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D018967:Risperidone