Nutritional Status of Children Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#humans #autism-spectrum-disorder #nutritional-status #child #micronutrients

Nutritional Status of Children Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Alhrbi et al., 2025 | J Hum Nutr Diet | Meta Analysis

Citation

Alhrbi Afnan, Vlachopoulos Dimitris, ... Revuelta Iniesta Raquel. Nutritional Status of Children Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2025-Aug;38(4):e70099. doi:10.1111/jhn.70099

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may impact feeding behaviours, which can affect physical development. We aimed to examine published evidence comparing nutritional status, defined as anthropometry, micronutrient status, and intakes and dietary intake, of children with ASD with those of typically developing children (TDC). Eligibility criteria included any studies that compared nutritional status among children with ASD and TDC. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and CENTRAL were searched. We used standardized mean difference (SMD) as an effect size for continuous variables and risk ratio (RR) for dichotomous variables with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Thirty-two studies with 18,480 children (ASD: 2955, TDC: 15,525) were included in our meta-analysis. Children with ASD were statistically significantly shorter than TDC (SMD: -0.16, 95% CI [-0.28, -0.04], I2 = 7%), but no difference in weight [-0.12, 95% CI (-0.17, 0.92)] and BMI [-0.06, 95% CI (-0.32, 0.20)]. They had decreased intake of protein [-0.34, 95% CI (-0.52, -0.15)] and nearly all lipid-soluble vitamins: vitamin A (SMD: -0.20, 95% CI [-0.38, -0.02], I2 = 37%), vitamin D (SMD: -0.30, 95% CI [-0.53, -0.03], I2 = 50%), and vitamin K (SMD: -41, 95% CI [-0.71, -0.10], I2 = 0%). Also, children with ASD had a statistically significantly decreased intake of some water-soluble vitamins like folate, riboflavin, thiamine and niacin. Decreased levels of some micronutrients like vitamin D and folate was also found. Children with ASD are statistically significantly shorter than TDC, which can be explained by the lower protein intake and fat- and water-soluble vitamin status and intake. These findings warrant further longitudinal population-based studies.

Key Findings

These findings warrant further longitudinal population-based studies.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

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

MeSH Terms

  • Humans
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Nutritional Status
  • Child
  • Micronutrients
  • Diet
  • Female
  • Male
  • Child, Preschool
  • Anthropometry
  • Body Mass Index
  • Feeding Behavior

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis
  • Vertical: vitamin-a

Provenance

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