Nutritional assessment and dietary intervention for children (3- 10 years) with Autism Spectrum Disorder

This prospective interventional study aims to evaluate the impact of tailored dietary interventions on autism symptomatology and nutritional status in children aged 3 to 10 years diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. A total of 110 children will be enrolled. At baseline, participants will undergo comprehensive assessments, including anthropometric measurements, dietary intake analysis, biochemical parameters, and a clinical evaluation, to determine their nutritional status. Autism related behaviors will be assessed using standardized tools, such as the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) and the Brief Autism Mealtime Behavior Inventory (BAMBI). Food intolerances will be identified using an elimination diet approach, and individualized nutrition plans will be developed based on these findings. The intervention will be implemented over a period of 3 months after which post-intervention assessments will be conducted. The primary outcome is the change in ATEC scores before and after the dietary intervention reflecting the effect of nutrition on autism symptomatology. Secondary outcomes include changes in BAMBI scores, improvements in nutritional status, dietary adequacy, the incidence of Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder ARFID, and correlations between food intolerances and autism severity. Findings from the study aim to establish evidence based dietary strategies for children with ASD and promote knowledge transfer to caregivers and the broader community enabling sustainable nutrition management and improved quality of life.