Differences in food consumption and nutritional intake between children with autism spectrum disorders and typically developing children: A meta-analysis

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#adolescent #autism-spectrum-disorder #calcium-dietary #case-control-studies #child

Differences in food consumption and nutritional intake between children with autism spectrum disorders and typically developing children: A meta-analysis

Esteban-Figuerola et al., 2019 | Autism | Meta Analysis

Citation

Esteban-Figuerola Patricia, Canals Josefa, ... Arija Val Victoria. Differences in food consumption and nutritional intake between children with autism spectrum disorders and typically developing children: A meta-analysis. Autism. 2019-Jul;23(5):1079-1095. doi:10.1177/1362361318794179

Abstract

Children with autism spectrum disorders show higher food selectivity, which restricts consumption of some foods and may cause nutritional deficiencies. The aims of this meta-analysis are to determine the overall differences in nutritional intake and food consumption between children with autism spectrum disorder and control (typical development) children, as well as determine the extent to which the nutritional intake and food consumption of autistic children comply with the dietary recommendations. Children with autism spectrum disorder consume less protein (standardized mean difference = -0.27, 95% confidence interval (-0.45, -0.08)), calcium (-0.56 (-0.95, -0.16)), phosphorus (-0.23 (-0.41, -0.04)), selenium (-0.29 (-0.44, -0.13)), vitamin D (-0.34 (-0.57, -0.11)), thiamine (-0.17 (-0.29, -0.05)), riboflavin (-0.25 (-0.45, -0.05)) and vitamin B12 (-0.52 (-0.95, -0.09)) and more polyunsaturated fat acid (0.27 (0.11, 0.44)) and vitamin E (0.28 (0.03, 0.54)) than controls. Autistic children also consume less omega-3 (-0.83 (-1.53, -0.16)) and more fruit (0.35 (0.12, 0.59)) and vegetables (0.35 (0.09, 0.61)) than control children; however, these results must be considered with care due to the low number of studies included in the analysis and the high heterogeneity. The results also suggest a lower intake of calcium, vitamin D and dairy and a higher intake of fruit, vegetables, protein, phosphorus, selenium, thiamine, riboflavin and vitamin B12 than recommended.

Key Findings

The results also suggest a lower intake of calcium, vitamin D and dairy and a higher intake of fruit, vegetables, protein, phosphorus, selenium, thiamine, riboflavin and vitamin B12 than recommended.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Adolescent
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Calcium, Dietary
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Diet
  • Dietary Fats
  • Dietary Fats, Unsaturated
  • Dietary Proteins
  • Eating
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Food Preferences
  • Fruit
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Nutrition Policy
  • Phosphorus, Dietary
  • Riboflavin
  • Selenium
  • Thiamine
  • Trace Elements
  • Vegetables
  • Vitamin B 12
  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin E
  • Vitamins

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Review
  • Vertical: thiamine

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09