Table 3.
Daily intakes of energy and nutrients for autistic and typically developing children, compared with the dietary reference intake (DRI)*, and a comparison of the inadequate intakes (<80 % DRI) of the case and control groups
(Median values and ranges, percentage of recommended nutrient intake (RNI) or adequate intake (AI) and inadequate intake number and percentage)
| Autistic group | Typically developing group | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DRI | Inadequate intake | Inadequate intake | |||||||||
| Nutrients | (RNI or AI) | Median | Range | % of RNI or AI | n | % | Median | Range | % of RNI or AI | n | % |
| Energy | 98·6 | 3 | 5·7 | 100·9 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| kJ | 6485 | 6397 | 4619–8962 | 6544 | 5213–8924 | ||||||
| kcal | 1550 | 1529 | 1104–2142 | 1564 | 1246–2133 | ||||||
| Protein (g) | 50 | 51·9 | 35·6–98·3 | 103·8 | 3 | 5·7 | 53·9 | 41·7–94·6 | 107·8 | 0 | 0 |
| Carbohydrates (g) | 50–60 %† | 226·3 | 163·4–317·0 | 59·2† | 6 | 11·3 | 222·5 | 177·2–303·4 | 56·9† | 1 | 1·9 |
| Fat (g) | 30–35 %† | 46·2 | 33·4–64·7 | 27·2† | 7 | 13·2 | 50·9 | 40·6–69·4 | 29·3† | 2 | 3·8 |
| Vitamin A (μg RE) | 500 | 309 | 153–667 | 61·8 | 43 | 81·1 | 343 | 181–702 | 68·6 | 40 | 75·5 |
| Vitamin B1 (mg) | 0·7 | 0·56 | 0·39–1·01 | 80·0 | 28 | 52·8 | 0·58 | 0·33–0·99 | 82·9 | 26 | 49·1 |
| Vitamin B2 (mg) | 0·7 | 0·59 | 0·26–0·99 | 84·3 | 23 | 43·4 | 0·56 | 0·27–1·30 | 80·0 | 25 | 47·2 |
| Vitamin B6 (mg) | 0·6 | 0·15 | 0·03–0·53 | 25·0 | 51 | 96·2 | 0·17 | 0·06–0·64 | 28·3 | 49 | 92·5 |
| Folate (μg DFE) | 200 | 184·6 | 64–326 | 92·0 | 27 | 50·9 | 177 | 54–339 | 88·5 | 23 | 43·4 |
| Niacin (mg NE) | 7 | 8·7 | 5·6–20·3 | 124·3 | 0 | 0 | 8·5 | 6·7–16·0 | 121·4 | 0 | |
| Vitamin C (mg) | 70 | 52·6 | 17·7–115 | 75·1 | 31 | 58·5 | 60·2 | 30·6–123·2 | 86·0 | 6 | 11·3‡ |
| Vitamin E (mg α-TE) | 5 | 11·7 | 4·4–17·3 | 234·0 | 0 | 0 | 13·5 | 7·9–25·7 | 270·0 | 0 | |
| Ca (mg) | 800 | 377 | 107–840 | 47·1 | 49 | 92·5 | 582 | 219–1021 | 72·8 | 30 | 56·6‡ |
| Mg (mg) | 150 | 164 | 80–375 | 109·3 | 3 | 5·6 | 165 | 84–350 | 110·0 | 2 | 3·8 |
| Fe (mg) | 12 | 12·5 | 7·7–24·9 | 104·2 | 8 | 15·1 | 13·4 | 6·3–23·8 | 11·7 | 7 | 13·2 |
| Zn (μg) | 12 | 6·3 | 2·6–14·9 | 52·5 | 30 | 56·6 | 7·1 | 4·0–16·4 | 59·2 | 29 | 54·7 |
RE, retinol equivalent; DFE, dietary folate equivalent; NE, niacin equivalent; α-TE, α-tocopherol.
* DRI for the 4–6 years old group recommended by the Chinese Nutrition Society.
† The contribution rate for energy intake.
‡ Significant difference at P < 0·05 (with χ2 tests).