Abstract

The anthropometric measurements, nutrient intake, concentrations of minerals in scalp hair and urine and urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid(5-HIAA) of 30 autistic children not taking psychoactive drugs and 30 nonautistic control children were determined. The autistic children were taking significantly lower amounts of vitamin A, niacin, ascorbic acid and iron. The intake of vitamin A, niacin, and iron in autistic children were found to be 22$\%$, 75$\%$ and 58 of RDA, respectively. The decreased anthropometric measurements in height and weight of autistic children seems partly due to lower intake of these micronutrients. The food intake in vitamin and mineral group of autistic children was significantly lower. It is probably related to decreased intake of fruit in autistic children. There was no toxicity of cadmium and aluminum in both groups according to their contents in scalp hair. Autistic children showed elevated levels of hair calcium and zinc but lowered levels of copper and iron. The urinary excretion urinary excretion of 5-HIAA.

• Keywords: autistic children; nutrient intake; mineral content;