Authors

  1. Lundin, Abigail A. MS, RD
  2. Dwyer, Johanna T. DSc, RD

Abstract

The prevalence of autism spectrumdisorders (ASDs) appears to have increased by nearly a quarter from 2006 to 2008.Much of this growth is probably because of improved awareness, broader definitions, and better diagnosis, but it is possible that the true number of individuals with autism may also be increasing. Children with ASDs and their parents need anticipatory guidance and ongoing assistance from the entire medical and behavioral treatment team. Conventional medical nutrition therapy, such as anthropometric assessment and optimizing feeding strategies, is essential for the nutritional care of children with ASDs. Complementary and alternative therapies, including elimination diets and dietary supplements, are increasingly popular, even though the evidence for their efficacy is still limited.