Autism Spectrum Disorder and Dietary Intake of Vitamin E

Abstract

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complicated condition that affects brain development, possibly caused by genetics and environmental factors. Individuals with ASD manifest a lack of balance between pathways that cause oxidative stress and levels of anti-oxidant agents. However, the association between ASD and dietary intake of antioxidants, such as vitamin E, is not yet clear. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the dietary vitamin E intake in children with ASD and typically developing (TD) children. Methods: Totally, 110 individuals with ASD from 5 to 15 years were selected as the case group and 110 TD children of the same age group were selected as the control group. The (GARS 2) was used to confirm the participants' ASD diagnoses. The food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used for collecting the required information on the child's diet. The Nutritionist IV software was used to evaluate the intake of different types of vitamin E. Result: A significantly lower intake of dietary vitamin E was observed in individuals with ASD relative to the control group (15.66 +/- 12.72 vs. 28.60 +/- 10.85 mg/day, p > 0.001). After adjusting for confounders such as age, gender, mother's age, Body Mass Index (BMI), and diet, decreased vitamin E intake was associated with an increased risk of developing ASD (OR = 0.90, 95 CI: 0.85-0.94, p < 0.001). Conclusion: An increased intake of vitamin E may be associated with a decreased risk of ASD. Further research is required to confirm this finding.