Research conducted in Singapore has uncovered that close to 40 per cent of children diagnosed with autism experience deficiencies in essential nutrients due to selective eating patterns.
The comprehensive study examined 240 children and revealed that 36.5 per cent lacked adequate vitamin D, while 37.7 per cent showed insufficient iron levels.
Scientists at the National University Hospital, Singapore, discovered that these nutritional gaps stem from food selectivity common among autistic children, who demonstrate five times greater likelihood of restrictive eating compared to neurotypical peers.
The findings highlight a previously underexplored health concern affecting thousands of autistic children who may be unknowingly experiencing these deficiencies.
Nutritional gaps stem from food selectivity common among autistic children
|GETTY
The investigation tracked participants over four years, revealing that more than 15 per cent of those with iron deficiency had progressed to anaemia, a condition where insufficient healthy red blood cells fail to deliver adequate oxygen throughout the body.
Age emerged as a significant factor, with each additional month increasing a child's likelihood of developing vitamin D deficiency by four per cent.
The researchers noted that while older children showed higher rates of iron deficiency anaemia, selective eaters displayed no correlation between age and iron levels.
Formula milk consumption in younger years appeared to offer some protection against nutritional deficiencies due to fortification with essential nutrients.
Medical professionals have said the discoveries warrant immediate action, advocating for systematic nutritional screening to become standard practice for autistic children.
The researchers stated: "Vitamin D and iron deficiencies were commonly detected in this study population of children with autism.
"Identifying the presence of such deficiencies and pursuing appropriate treatment for these can result in improvements in the overall health and development of these children."
Untreated vitamin D deficiency poses serious risks, including rickets and bone malformations, alongside muscle weakness, pain, and tingling sensations in extremities.
Iron deficiency manifests through exhaustion, breathing difficulties, pallor and persistent headaches, potentially impacting children's development and quality of life.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Medical professionals have said the discoveries warrant immediate action
|GETTY
The research emerges against a backdrop of escalating autism diagnoses across England, where the latest NHS data shows approximately 130,000 children under 18 remain on waiting lists for assessment as of December 2024.
This represents a six-fold surge from the 20,000 recorded in December 2019, highlighting what specialists describe as an "invisible crisis" within overwhelmed services.
Recent American studies indicate female autism cases may go undetected due to subtler symptom presentation compared to males, raising concerns about missed opportunities for early intervention.
The Singapore findings assume particular significance given this context of rising diagnoses and potential underidentification, especially regarding overlooked health complications.