Overview of Nutritional Therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

The objective of this chapter is to evaluate the latest research pertinent to nutritional management in the treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and discuss the effectiveness of dietary interventions, nutritional approaches, and supplementation in ASD. To date, the best conventional treatments for autism have been based on a combination of pharmacotherapy, behavioral treatments, and nutritional/dietary therapy, leading many parents and caregivers to opt for specific dietary interventions in the hope of alleviating the symptoms of their children and helping them cope with this disorder. Thus, the role of a registered dietitian and a nutrition specialist is crucial in planning specific nutritional and dietary interventions tailored to individual needs, to make sure the child's nutritional needs for growth and development are being met. In addition, a careful monitoring of the nutritional status and the positive or negative outcomes pertinent to the planned intervention is a must. Furthermore, numerous studies have also discussed how the maternal diet and specific dietary supplements might affect the behavioral development of children in the first few years of life. A review of the abovementioned nutrition-related key points is discussed in this chapter.

Keywords: ASD; Autism; Diet; Dietary intervention; Nutrition management; Nutritional deficiency; Nutritional therapy.