Nutrient adequacy, dietary patterns and diet quality among children with and without intellectual disabilities.
L G Bandini, C Curtin, S M Phillips and 6 others
PMID 34342094WHAT IT FOUND
Children with intellectual disabilities ate far fewer vegetables than typical peers, but overall diet quality was poor in both groups.
Most children missed key nutrients like vitamin D and calcium regardless of disability status. Snack intake correlated with higher BMI in children with ID.
Key findings
01Children with intellectual disabilities had significantly lower vegetable intake (0.54 servings/day) compared to typically developing children (1.23 servings/day).
02Overall diet quality scores were not statistically different between groups, with both averaging scores considered poor.
03A substantial proportion of children in both groups did not meet recommended intakes for vitamins D and E, calcium, and potassium.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study used convenience samples, so the participants may not represent the general population of children with ID. The proportion of children with Down syndrome and ASD in the ID group was higher than in the general population, which may skew dietary patterns. Dietary data relied on 3-day food records, which can have reporting errors, though an RDN reviewed them. The study did not account for dietary supplements, which could affect nutrient adequacy. ASD status in the ID group was based on screening ('probable ASD') rather than clinical diagnosis. The sample size was moderate, which may have limited the ability to detect some differences.
Declared interests
No conflicts of interest were declared. The study was supported by NIH grants.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that children with ID have significantly worse overall diet quality than their typically developing peers. The overall Healthy Eating Index scores were statistically similar and poor in both groups. The primary difference was in vegetable intake, while other nutrient gaps were widespread across all children.