title: Nutrient intake from food in children with autism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The impact of abnormal feeding behaviors reported for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) on their nutritional status is unknown. We compared nutrient intake from food consumed by children with and without ASD and examined nutrient deficiency and excess.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective 3-day food records and BMI for children (2-11 years) with ASD participating in the Autism Treatment Network (Arkansas, Cincinnati, Colorado, Pittsburgh, and Rochester) were compared with both the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data and a matched subset based on age, gender, family income, and race/ethnicity (N = 252 analyzed food records).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children with ASD and matched controls consumed similar amounts of nutrients from food. Only children with ASD aged 4 to 8 years consumed significantly less energy, vitamins A and C, and the mineral Zn; and those 9 to 11 years consumed less phosphorous. A greater percentage of children with ASD met recommendations for vitamins K and E. Few children in either group met the recommended intakes for fiber, choline, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin K, and potassium. Specific age groups consumed excessive amounts of sodium, folate, manganese, zinc, vitamin A (retinol), selenium, and copper. No differences were observed in nutritional sufficiency of children given restricted diets. Children aged 2 to 5 years with ASD had more overweight and obesity, and children 5 to 11 years had more underweight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children with ASD, like other children in America, consume less than the recommended amounts of certain nutrients from food. Primary care for all children should include nutritional surveillance and attention to BMI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA. susan_hyman@urmc.rochester.edu
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hyman
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Brianne
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Usa
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Cain
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lemcke
authors.forename: Jennifer T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Foley
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peck
authors.forename: Traci
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Clemons
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Handen
authors.forename: S Jill
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: Patty Manning
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Courtney
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Molloy
authors.forename: Philip K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011446:Prospective Studies