Title:Specialized Diet Therapies: Exploration for Improving Behavior in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Volume: 27
Issue: 40
Author(s): Geir Bjørklund*, Nagwa Abdel Meguid, Maryam Dadar, Lyudmila Pivina, Joanna Kałużna-Czaplińska, Jagoda Jóźwik-Pruska, Jan Aaseth, Max Stanley Chartrand, Mostafa Ibrahim Waly, Yahya Al-Farsi, Md. Mostafizur Rahman, Joeri Jan Pen and Salvatore Chirumbolo
Affiliation:
- Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (CONEM), Toften 24, 8610 Mo i Rana,Norway
Keywords:
Autism, diet, genetic, environmental stressors, epigenetic stressors, gluten, casein.
Abstract: As a major neurodevelopmental disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) encompasses
deficits in communication and repetitive and restricted interests or behaviors in childhood and adolescence.
Its etiology may come from either a genetic, epigenetic, neurological, hormonal, or an environmental
cause, generating pathways that often altogether play a synergistic role in the development
of ASD pathogenesis. Furthermore, the metabolic origin of ASD should be important as well. A balanced
diet consisting of the essential and special nutrients, alongside the recommended caloric intake,
is highly recommended to promote growth and development that withstand the physiologic and behavioral
challenges experienced by ASD children. In this review paper, we evaluated many studies that
show a relationship between ASD and diet to develop a better understanding of the specific effects of
the overall diet and the individual nutrients required for this population. This review will add a comprehensive
update of knowledge in the field and shed light on the possible nutritional deficiencies, metabolic
impairments (particularly in the gut microbiome), and malnutrition in individuals with ASD, which
should be recognized in order to maintain the improved socio-behavioral habit and physical health.
