Nutrient deficiency tied to sensory sensitivity in children with autism, intellectual disability

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) enjoy better dietary intake but show worse sensory sensitivity than those with intellectual disability (ID), suggests a study.

Eighty-four students in a special education school were enrolled in this study. Of these, 34 had ASD and 48 ID. The author evaluated the participants’ dietary intakes using a 3-day food diary. They also measured sensory sensitivity using short sensory profile (SSP) and performed Wechsler IQ tests.

Of the 24 nutrients analysed, two had an adequate intake rate of >50 percent, while four of 10 vitamins examined had an inadequate intake rate of >90 percent and another two >80 percent. Three in four (75.6 percent) participants also had an inadequate energy intake.

After adjusting for age, children with ASD showed a higher intake of all investigated nutrients. However, there was a statistical difference noted with vitamin E and folate intakes (p<0.05), and a smaller number of inadequate nutrients (p<0.001).

In addition, children with ASD had a slightly higher taste/smell sensitivity, movement sensitivity, under-responsive/seeks sensation, and total sensory sensitivity symptoms than those with ID (p<0.05 for all).

Following the adjustments for IQ and sensory sensitivity score, no statistically significant difference was observed in the number of inadequate nutrients between the two cohorts (p=0.193).

“Sensory sensitivity and intelligence are correlated with nutritional status in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorder,” the authors said.