title: Low folate and vitamin B12 nourishment is common in Omani children with newly diagnosed autism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Arab populations lack data related to nutritional assessment in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), especially micronutrient deficiencies such as folate and vitamin B12.
  
  
  METHODS
  To assess the dietary and serum folate and vitamin B12 statuses, a hospital-based case-control study was conducted in 80 Omani children (40 children with ASDs versus 40 controls).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ASD cases showed significantly lower levels of folate, vitamin B12, and related parameters in dietary intake and serum levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data showed that Omani children with ASDs exhibit significant deficiencies in folate and vitamin B12 and call for increasing efforts to ensure sufficient intakes of essential nutrients by children with ASDs to minimize or reverse any ongoing impact of nutrient deficiencies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
authors.forename: Yahya M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Al-Farsi
authors.forename: Mostafa I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Waly
authors.forename: Richard C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Deth
authors.forename: Marwan M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Al-Sharbati
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Shafaee
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Al-Farsi
authors.forename: Maha M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Al-Khaduri
authors.forename: Ishita
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Amanat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Maha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Khalili
authors.forename: Samir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Adawi
authors.forename: Nathaniel W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Hodgson
authors.forename: Allal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ouhtit
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000150:complications*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009850:Oman / Q000453:epidemiology; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12