title: Dietary intake and plasma levels of choline and betaine in children with autism spectrum disorders.
abstract: Abnormalities in folate-dependent one-carbon metabolism have been reported in many children with autism. Because inadequate choline and betaine can negatively affect folate metabolism and in turn downstream methylation and antioxidant capacity, we sought to determine whether dietary intake of choline and betaine in children with autism was adequate to meet nutritional needs based on national recommendations. Three-day food records were analyzed for 288 children with autism (ASDs) who participated in the national Autism Intervention Research Network for Physical Health (AIR-P) Study on Diet and Nutrition in children with autism. Plasma concentrations of choline and betaine were measured in a subgroup of 35 children with ASDs and 32 age-matched control children. The results indicated that 60-93% of children with ASDs were consuming less than the recommended Adequate Intake (AI) for choline. Strong positive correlations were found between dietary intake and plasma concentrations of choline and betaine in autistic children as well as lower plasma concentrations compared to the control group. We conclude that choline and betaine intake is inadequate in a significant subgroup of children with ASDs and is reflected in lower plasma levels. Inadequate intake of choline and betaine may contribute to the metabolic abnormalities observed in many children with autism and warrants attention in nutritional counseling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA.
authors.forename: Joanna C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hamlin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pauly
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA.
authors.forename: Stepan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Melnyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA.
authors.forename: Oleksandra
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pavliv
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Starrett
authors.affiliation: Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA.
authors.forename: Tina A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Crook
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA ; Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute, 13 Children's Way Slot 512-41B, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA.
authors.forename: S Jill
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: James