Comparison of Dietary Intake of Vitamin A in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders with Healthy Children in Gorgan City in 2021: A Case-control Study

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a multifactorial disorder that is affected by genetic and environmental factors, including nutritional factors. Recently, the role of nutrients, especially vitamin A, in the pathophysiology and treatment of ASD has received increasing attention. In addition, ASD affects the nutritional pattern and therefore some nutrients may not be received enough. This study was conducted to investigate and compare the intake of different forms of vitamin A in children with ASD and healthy children as a control group in Gorgan City (Northeast of Iran).

In this case-control study, 35 children aged 6 to 12 years with ASD and 70 healthy children who were matched in terms of age and gender were included. Food intake information was recorded using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). To calculate the dietary intake of vitamin A, the FFQ information was entered into ShaFA software.

The age difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (P=0.27). The total intake of vitamin A was significantly higher in the control group than in the ASD group. The intake levels of retinol, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, and lycopene were higher in the control group than in the ASD group. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of total intake of lutein and zeaxanthin.

Although the average intake of the two groups was higher than the average values recommended for the corresponding age and gender populations, the lower intake of various food sources of vitamin A in the ASD group indicated the need to pay attention to the food intake of these children, especially that according to the evidence, this disease directly or indirectly affected eating habits and patterns.