Bone Mineral Density in Boys Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

This study compared bone mineral density (BMD) of the spine obtained by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), nutritional status, biochemical markers, and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in 4-8 year old boys with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with a group of age-matched, healthy boys without ASD. Boys with ASD had significantly lower spine BMD compared to controls but this was not correlated with any biochemical markers, dietary intake of calcium and vitamin D, elimination diet status, or GI symptomology. Reduced BMD in 4-8 year old boys with ASD appears to involve factors other than nutrient intake and GI status, and requires further study.

Implementation of an Elemental Diet in Five Children Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder Presenting with Gastrointestinal Disease: A Brief Report

“…The GSRS has been used in several studies of children with ASD [49] but the language used is complicated and overly clinical, and it was originally designed for use in adults to screen for irritable bowel syndrome and peptic ulcer disease [42]. However, at the time of study initiation, the GSRS was considered the best questionnaire available for capturing the anticipated five domains in GI symptomatology: abdominal pain, reflux, indigestion, diarrhea, and constipation and has since been used in a number of ASD studies [50][51][52][53]. Overall, GI symptoms improved over time in most of the participants.…”

Altered Bone Status in Rett Syndrome

“…In 2017, Barnhill et al examined the bone mineral density of the lumbar spine by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in a cohort of boys with and without ASD, at the same age range as the previous paper. They found that a significantly lower bone mineral density in boys with ASD compared to the controls can be identified in 4-8-year-old children, while the nutrient intake seemed not to be associated with this effect [114].…”