Table 3.
Utilization of complementary alternative medicine
| ASD (n=453) | DD(n=125) | aPR [95%CI]† | P-value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any CAM treatments [n (%)] | 178 (39.3) | 37 (29.6) | 1.25 [0.94, 1.67] | n.s. |
| Dietary supplements [n (%)] | 112 (24.7) | 23 (18.4) | 1.29 [0.86, 1.94] | n.s. |
| GFCF diet [n (%)] | 83 (18.3) | 2 (1.6) | 10.40 [2.59, 41.65] | 0.0009 |
| Frequent GI symptoms‡ | 30 (38.0) | - | 1.41 [0.95, 2.10] | 0.0909 |
| Invasive, disproven, or potentially unsafe CAM1 [n (%)] | 39 (8.6) | 0 (0.0) | 1.27 [1.19, 1.36] | 0.0023 |
| Antifungals | 15 (3.3) | 0 (0.0) | - | - |
| Chelation | 20 (4.4) | 0 (0.0) | - | - |
| B12 injections | 19 (4.2) | 0 (0.0) | - | - |
| IVIg | 1 (0.2) | 0 (0.0) | - | - |
| Secretin | 1 (0.2) | 0 (0.0) | - | - |
| Homeopathic remedies [n (%)] | 1 (0.2) | 3 (2.4) | 0.07 [0.01, 0.66] | 0.0205 |
| Mind-body medicine [n (%)] | 6 (1.3) | 5 (4.0) | 0.26 [0.08, 0.84] | 0.0248 |
| Melatonin [n (%)] | 24 (5.3) | 3 (2.4) | 2.11 [0.64, 6.91] | n.s. |
| Probiotics [n (%)] | 29 (6.4) | 7 (5.6) | 1.04 [0.47, 2.33] | n.s. |
| Other CAM treatments2 [n (%)] | 61 (13.5) | 14 (11.2) | 1.12 [0.65, 1.94] | n.s. |
Log-binomial regression models with CAM treatments as the outcome, adjusted for highest level of education in household (no Bachelor degree vs. Bachelor degree or higher); aPR = adjusted Prevalence Ratio, CI = confidence interval
Number of children on the GFCF diet and with frequent GI symptoms; 4 children on the GFCF diet and 19 children not on the GFCF diet were missing data on GI symptoms; 100 children not on the GFCF diet had frequent GI symptoms (of a total 351 not on the GFCF diet); log-binomial regression models, adjusted for highest level of education in household, were restricted to the ASD group only
Small sample adjustment of prevalence ratio and 95% confidence interval (Jewell NP, 2004)
Includes alternative diets other than GFCF, essential fatty acids, immune therapies other than IVIg