title: Fat intake in children with autism spectrum disorder in the Mediterranean region (Valencia, Spain).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been found to have alterations in dietary fat intake and fat quality. The fat intakes of the foods consumed by children with and without ASD were compared, and the deficiency and excess of these nutrients were examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a matched case-control study, 3-day food diaries were completed by 105 children with ASD and 495 typically developing (TD) 6- to 9-year-old children in Valencia (Spain). We used the probabilistic approach and estimated average requirement cut-point to evaluate the risk of inadequate nutrients intakes. These were compared between groups and with Spanish recommendations using linear and logistic regression, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Groups did not differ significantly in age, total dietary intake, Healthy Eating Index, or food variety score. Children with ASD had lower saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) intakes, but their total PUFAs and (PUFAs + monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs)/SFAs, PUFAs/SFAs intakes and ω-6/ω-3 ratios were higher than TD children. The total fat and cholesterol intakes of both groups were slightly above Spanish recommendations. Both groups had low ω-6 intakes, very low ω-3 intakes, and high ω-6/ω-3 ratios.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further research is required to clarify associations between ASD symptomatology, fat-eating patterns and health status.
authors.affiliation: a Unit of Public Health and Environmental Care, Department of Preventive Medicine , University of Valencia , Valencia , Spain.|b Biomedical Research Center Network on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP) , Institute of Health Carlos III , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marí-Bauset
authors.affiliation: a Unit of Public Health and Environmental Care, Department of Preventive Medicine , University of Valencia , Valencia , Spain.|b Biomedical Research Center Network on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP) , Institute of Health Carlos III , Madrid , Spain.|c Center for Public Health Research (CSISP) , Valencia , Spain.
authors.forename: Agustín
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Llopis-González
authors.affiliation: d Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences and Physiology , University of Navarre , Navarre , Spain.|e Biomedical Research Centre Network on Obesity and Nutrition, Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn) , Institute of Health Carlos III , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: Itziar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zazpe
authors.affiliation: f Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Unit , Navarra Hospital Complex , Navarre , Spain.
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marí-Sanchis
authors.affiliation: a Unit of Public Health and Environmental Care, Department of Preventive Medicine , University of Valencia , Valencia , Spain.|b Biomedical Research Center Network on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP) , Institute of Health Carlos III , Madrid , Spain.|c Center for Public Health Research (CSISP) , Valencia , Spain.
authors.forename: María Morales
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Suárez-Varela
mesh_terms: D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003677:Deficiency Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015930:Diet Records; D000072001:Diet, Healthy; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D010349:Patient Compliance; D015995:Prevalence; D012306:Risk; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats
keywords: Autism; Autism spectrum disorder; Fat intake; Fatty acids; ω-3 PUFAs; ω-6 PUFAs