Eating Behaviours, Diet and Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Condition: Autism Spectrum Disorder
MeSH terms: Autistic Disorder; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      This case-control study aims to compare the differences in eating behaviours, nutritional
      status, diet quality and gastrointestinal (GI) health between Chinese children aged 3-6 years
      with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) (n=65) and typically developing children (TDC) (n=65).
    

Detailed description: 
      Objective: To compare the differences in eating behaviours, nutritional status, diet quality
      and gastrointestinal (GI) health between Chinese children aged 3-6 years with autism spectrum
      disorders (ASD) and typically developing children (TDC).

      Hypotheses:

        1. Children with ASD will show more problematic mealtime behaviours as represented by
           higher scores of 'limited variety' and 'food refusal' domains of the BAMBI compared to
           typically developing children

        2. Children with ASD will have more GI symptoms, in particular constipation and diarrhea
           compared to typically developing children

        3. Children with ASD will have a lower ratio of Bacteroidetes to Firmicutes than the
           typical control children

        4. Children with ASD will have less desirable diet quality in terms of lower dietary index,
           lower dietary diversity score and lower intake of fibre, iron, calcium, zinc and vitamin
           C compared to typically developing children

        5. A better diet quality will be associated with a more favourable gut microbial
           composition in children with and without ASD

      Design and subjects: Case-control study including 65 families with children of ASD and 65
      families with TDC matched by child's age and sex.

      Outcomes: The primary outcomes will be the difference in mean scores of 'limited variety' and
      'food refusal' domains of the Chinese version of BAMBI between children with ASD and
      typically developing children. The secondary outcomes will be the difference in the
      occurrence of GI symptoms in terms of constipation and diarrhea, as well as the difference in
      the gut microbiota profile in terms of the Bacteroidetes to Firmicutes ratio between children
      with ASD and typically developing children. The tertiary outcome will be the difference in
      the diet quality in terms of lower dietary index, lower dietary diversity score and lower
      intake of fibre, iron, calcium, zinc and vitamin C in children with ASD and typically
      developing children.
    

Observational model: Case-Control
Time perspective: Cross-Sectional
Sampling method: Non-Probability Sample
Study population: 
        Sixty five families with children of ASD of Chinese origin aged between 3 and 6 years and
        65 control families with typically developing children matched by child's age (within 6
        months) and sex will be recruited through invitation letters using a convenience sampling
        method in nurseries and kindergartens, in particular those with integrated programmes for
        ASD children. Some other possible channels for recruiting families with ASD children will
        include non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and some ASD family supporting groups.
      
Biospecimen description: 
      Stool sample and blood sample