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Clinical and nutritional profile of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder in Brazil: a nationwide online survey

G. Corrêa,F. Soares,Zilton Farias Meira de Vasconcelos,Ana Carolina Carioca Costa,Adriana Duarte Rocha

Published 2025 in Jornal de Pediatria

ABSTRACT

Objective To characterize the clinical and nutritional profile of children and adolescents with ASD in Brazil and their eating problems. Method This is a cross-sectional study using a national online survey, with a sample of 613 children and adolescents with ASD aged between 2 and 17 years. Data analysis consisted of descriptive analysis, followed by Pearson's chi-square test with a statistical significance of 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval. Results Food allergy was reported by 33.8% of the participants, the most frequent being cow's milk (70.2%), among those who reported gastrointestinal problems, constipation was the most frequent (54.1%). The presence of pica was reported by 25% and food selectivity was present in 77.2%, with greater refusal of fruit, vegetables and pasty textures. Most of the participants do not have follow-ups with a nutritionist and 44.5% are on some special diet, excluding gluten/wheat (75.4%) and without casein/animal milk (76.1%). More than half of the participants did not eat fruit (50.6%), vegetables (68.1%), or leafy greens (83.6%) frequently. A positive correlation was found between food selectivity and gastrointestinal symptoms (p-value < 0.050); food allergy and gastrointestinal symptoms (p-value < 0.001) and pica and gastrointestinal symptoms (p-value < 0.001). Conclusions The results of this study show changes in food consumption and increased risk of nutritional deficiencies for children and adolescents with ASD in Brazil.

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