Low folate and vitamin B12 nourishment is common in Omani children with newly diagnosed autism.

Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.

Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) 2013 Mar

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Arab populations lack data related to nutritional assessment in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), especially micronutrient deficiencies such as folate and vitamin B12. To assess the dietary and serum folate and vitamin B12 statuses, a hospital-based case-control study was conducted in 80 Omani children (40 children with ASDs versus 40 controls). The ASD cases showed significantly lower levels of folate, vitamin B12, and related parameters in dietary intake and serum levels. These data showed that Omani children with ASDs exhibit significant deficiencies in folate and vitamin B12 and call for increasing efforts to ensure sufficient intakes of essential nutrients by children with ASDs to minimize or reverse any ongoing impact of nutrient deficiencies. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Citation

Yahya M Al-Farsi, Mostafa I Waly, Richard C Deth, Marwan M Al-Sharbati, Mohamed Al-Shafaee, Omar Al-Farsi, Maha M Al-Khaduri, Ishita Gupta, Amanat Ali, Maha Al-Khalili, Samir Al-Adawi, Nathaniel W Hodgson, Allal Ouhtit. Low folate and vitamin B12 nourishment is common in Omani children with newly diagnosed autism. Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.). 2013 Mar;29(3):537-41