Affiliation:
1. Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (DU), Chennai, India
2. Department of Paediatrics,Karthikeyan Child Development Unit, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (DU), Chennai, India
Abstract
The principal objective of this scoping systematic review is to comprehensively synthesize a broad spectrum of existing research studies that investigate the impact of nutritional supplements on individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A comprehensive literature review was performed, focusing on studies published between 2017 and 2023, utilizing primary databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar and ScienceDirect. A total of 31 relevant studies were identified, encompassing various supplement types such as prebiotics, probiotics, antioxidants, amino acids and fatty acids. The prebiotic and probiotic supplements have demonstrated efficacy in enhancing gut microbiota, subsequently leading to improvements in behaviour and reductions in inflammatory markers. The majority of the antioxidant, amino acids and fatty acid supplements, proved an enhancement in the childhood autism rating score, consequently resulting in noticeable improvements in behaviour. While some supplementary studies showed contradictory and inconsistent results. The uniqueness of this scoping review lies in its all-comprehensive assessment of current research trends in utilizing nutritional supplements for ASD behaviour management. It delivers a tabular summary of diverse supplements, enabling time-efficient optimization of supplement choices. Furthermore, this scoping systematic review will serve as a valuable resource for clinicians, researchers, and policymakers seeking to make informed decisions and guide future research directions in the realm of ASD and nutritional interventions.