Walaa MR El-Meidany1*, Dalia I. Tayel1, Marwa S. Abd El-Maksoud2, Ebtisam M. Fetohy3, Fikrat A. El-Sahn1
1Nutrition Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt. 2Pediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt. 3Department of Health administration and Behavioral Sciences, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt
*Corresponding author: Dr. Walaa El-Meidany, Lecturer of Nutrition, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt. E-mail: w.elmaidany@alexu .edu.eg / [email protected]
ABSTRACT
Aim of the study: The study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with virgin coconut oil (VCO) on the anthropometric measurements and dietary intake of children with autism spectrum disorder. Subjects & Methods: Quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test study including 61 child of age group less than 18 years from both sexes. Results: Dietary supplementation with VCO caused a significant change in weight, height, as well as energy, macronutrients and some micronutrients. Conclusion: VCO supplementation was very effective in decreasing the energy and all studied nutrients after the intervention except for fat, vitamin B2, copper (among girls), phosphorus (among boys) and vitamin C there was an increase. Both weight and height increased significantly as those children are in a growing phase while body mass index did not change. It is suggested that virgin coconut oil supplementation for children with autism spectrum disorder might decrease their energy consumption from food as well as improving the dietary intake of certain macronutrients and micronutrients that were investigated.
Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder, Gastrointestinal symptoms, Virgin coconut oil
Citation: Walaa MR El-Meidany, Dalia I. Tayel, Marwa S. Abd El-Maksoud, Ebtisam M. Fetohy, Fikrat A. El-Sahn. Effect of Virgin Coconut Oil Supplementation on Anthropometrical Parameters and Dietary Intake of Autistic Children. Canadian Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2021; 9 (2): 33-50.
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.14206/canad.j.clin.nutr.2021.02.04
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