Children with autism often have restrictive diets. Here, we report an adolescent with autism who developed dietary vitamin A deficiency because of a restrictive diet. Despite supplementation with vitamin A, some of the visual loss was permanent with optic atrophy. Children with autism who have restrictive diets may need periodic serum vitamin levels assessed.
Arnold GL, Hyman SL, Mooney RA, Kirby RSPlasma amino acid profiles in children with autism: potential risks of nutritional deficiencies. J Autism Dev Disord. 2003;33(4):449-454.
2.
Ahearn WH, Castine T., Nault K., Green G.An assessment of food acceptance in children with autism or pervasive developmental disorder- not otherwise specified. J Autism Dev Disord. 2001;31(5):505-511.
3.
Raiten DJ, Massaro T.Perspectives on the nutritional ecology of autistic children. J Autism Dev Disord. 1986;16(2):133-143.
4.
Schreck K., Williams K., Smith A.A comparison of eating behaviors between children with and without autism . J Autism Dev Disord. 2004;34(4):433-438.
5.
Fox AT, DuToit G., Lang A., Lack G.Food allergy as a risk factor for nutritional rickets. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2004;15(6): 566-569.
6.
Ahearn W.Is Eliminating Casein and Gluten From a Child’s Diet a Viable Treatment for Autism?http://behavior.org/autism/Ahearn.cfm . Accessed January 8, 2009.
7.
Witwer A., Lecavalier L.Treatment incidence and patterns in children and adolescents with autistic spectrum disorders. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2005;15(4):671-681.
8.
Dolske MC, Spollen J., McKay S., et al. A preliminary trial of ascorbic acid as supplemental therapy for autism. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 1993;17(5):765-774.
9.
Steinemann TL , Christiansen SP. Vitamin A deficiency and xerophthalmia in an autistic child. Arch Opthalmol. 1998 ; 116(3):392-393.
10.
Clark JH, Rhoden DK, Turner DSSymptomatic vitamin A and D deficiencies in an eight-year-old with autism . JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 1993;17(3):284-286.
11.
Johnson TWDietary considerations in autism: identifying a reasonable approach. Top Clin Nutr. 2006;21(3):212-225.
