Prospective relationship between autistic traits and nutrient intakes among Japanese children: Results of the Shika study.

This Japanese study followed 759 children over several years and found that children with autism traits ate less of certain important nutrients like calcium, iron, and vitamins compared to other children. These differences got worse as the children got older. The researchers recommend regular check-ups of what autistic children are eating to make sure they're getting enough nutrition as they grow.

This prospective Japanese study followed 759 children aged 7-12 years at baseline through to 10-15 years to examine the relationship between autistic traits and nutrient intake. Results demonstrated that children with autistic traits had relatively lower intakes of several key nutrients including sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, vitamin D, vitamin B2, and vitamin B12 compared to children without autistic traits. Notably, these nutritional differences became more pronounced in later childhood during the follow-up period. The findings highlight the importance of ongoing nutritional screening for children with autistic traits throughout their developmental years to identify and address potential nutrient inadequacies.

Regular nutritional screening recommended for children with autistic traits, with particular attention to calcium, magnesium, iron, vitamin D, B2, and B12 intake. Monitoring should continue through adolescence as nutritional gaps may widen with age. Early identification may prevent long-term health consequences.

Study design not specified in abstract. Limited to Japanese population which may limit generalizability. No information provided about intervention strategies or mechanisms underlying the observed nutritional differences. Unclear how autistic traits were measured or defined.

It is known about food selectivity among children with autism spectrum disorder. However, the nutritional inadequacy among children with ASD is not clear. Especially, long-term evaluation has not been studied. We examined the prospective relationship between autistic traits in children and subsequent nutrient intake in later childhood.

We utilized data obtained at two time points from a study conducted in Japan. Participants were 759 Japanese children aged between 7 and 12 years at baseline and between 10 and 15 years in the follow-up. The results showed relatively lower intakes of sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, vitamin D, vitamin B2, and vitamin B12 among children with than without autistic traits. Relatively lower intake of minerals and vitamins in children with autistic traits is more evident in later childhood.

The results suggest the importance of screening the nutrient intake of children with autistic traits across childhood.