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The Association Between Autism Spectrum Disorders and Dietary Intake of Carbohydrates in School-Aged Children in Iran: A Case–Control Study Publisher Pubmed



Tajadod S1 ; Roumi Z2 ; Abbas Torki S3 ; Mousavi Shalmani SH4 ; Moradi M5 ; Saeedirad Z6 ; Abbasi Mobarakeh K7 ; Mohammadi S8 ; Shekari S2 ; Mirzaee P9 ; Bahmani P10 ; Houshyarrad A11 ; Doaei S12
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, International Campus, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Department of Nutrition, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
  4. 4. Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
  5. 5. Department of Clinical Psychology, Payame Noor University (PNU), Tehran, Iran
  6. 6. Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  7. 7. Food Security Research Center and Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
  8. 8. Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
  9. 9. Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
  10. 10. Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  11. 11. Department of Nutrition Research, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  12. 12. Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Source: Neuropsychopharmacology Reports Published:2025


Abstract

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with both genetic and environmental risk factors. Imbalanced dietary Intake has recently been proposed as a possible environmental risk factor for ASD. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible connection between ASD and intake of various carbohydrate types. Methods: 110 patients with autism from 5 to 15 years of age have been included as the case group and 110 neurotypical children who are part of a similar age category have been chosen as controls for this case–control study. To estimate the dietary intake of carbohydrates, a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used. Results: Positive connections were found between ASD and the intake of sugar (OR = 1.03, CI 95%: 1.02–1.06, p = 0.001), and maltose (OR = 2.09, CI 95%: 1.37–3.20, p = 0.001). A reverse correlation was found between ASD and dietary intake of carbohydrates (OR = 0.97, CI 95%: 0.96–0.98, p = 0.001), fructose (OR = 0.85, CI 95%: 0.77–0.94, p = 0.002), and lactose (OR = 0.89, CI 95%: 0.83–0.96, p = 0.002). Conclusion: This study showed a direct link between autism and the intake of sugar and maltose and an inverse connection between autism and the dietary intake of total carbohydrate, fructose, and lactose. There is a need to carry out additional long-term studies. © 2025 The Author(s). Neuropsychopharmacology Reports published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of The Japanese Society of Neuropsychopharmacology.
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