P589 - CORRECTION OF WITHIN-INDIVIDUAL VARIANCE IN THE INTAKE OF MICRONUTRIENTS IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

P589

CORRECTION OF WITHIN-INDIVIDUAL VARIANCE IN THE INTAKE OF MICRONUTRIENTS IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

K. Castro^1,*, E. Silva¹, L. Hoffmann¹, E. Verly-Junior², S. Valle¹, J. Vaz¹

¹Programa de Pós-Graduação em Nutrição e Alimentos, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, ²Departamento de Epidemiologia, Universidade Estadual do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rationale: Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience feeding difficulties that can impact their nutrient intake. Although research on nutritional deficiencies and ASD has grown considerably, many studies employ methodologies lacking proper statistical adjustments to estimate usual consumption accurately. 

Methods: This study examines the estimated prevalence of essential micronutrient inadequacy in a sample of children with ASD, both before and after adjusting for within-individual variance. Data were collected from children aged 4 to 8, diagnosed with ASD, and enrolled in the Protocol for Nutritional Care in Autism study (94253518.0.0000.5317). Children with genetic and/or congenital conditions or those taking food supplements were excluded. Food consumption was assessed using three non-consecutive 24-hour food records. The Multiple Source Method program was used to estimate within-individual variance and the intake distribution of two vitamins (niacin and pyridoxine) and three minerals (calcium, iron, and zinc). Nutrient inadequacy was determined using the Estimated Average Requirements (EAR), with intake below the EAR classified as insufficient. 

Results: The sample consisted of 161 children, the majority male (78.3%). Within-individual variance ranged from 0.12 to 0.53 for vitamins and 0.06 to 0.64 for minerals. After statistical adjustments, the estimated prevalence of insufficient intake decreased for all analyzed micronutrients, reducing the prevalence of insufficient intake for all analyzed micronutrients: calcium (57.8% vs 55.3%), iron (5.6% vs. 1.2%), zinc (9.3% vs. 7.4%), niacin (20.5% vs. 17.4%) and pyridoxine (16.1% vs. 11.2%).

Conclusion:  These findings underscore the importance of future research on nutrition and ASD, emphasizing the need to account for dietary variability when assessing micronutrient intake adequacy based on reference recommendations.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared