INFLUENCE OF NUTRITIONAL STRATEGIES FOR FOOD SELECTIVITY IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD)

Abstract

Autism is characterized as a developmental syndrome affecting communication, behavior, and social interaction. It is usually manifested in the first three years of life and its incidence has been gradually growing in recent years, as well as the need for research in the area. There is a high incidence of cases of autistic patients who have food selectivity, giving preference to some types of food and creating resistance to others, thus favoring the possibility of reducing the consumption of nutrients necessary for their body. The aim of this study was to verify the influence of nutritional strategies on food selectivity in patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder. A literature review was carried out in which scientific articles were selected from the Virtual Health Library, Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SCIELO), National Library of Medicine (PUBMED), Coordination for the Improvement of Personnel in Higher Education (CAPES). After the research process, seven articles were selected. Through the grounded articles, it was possible to analyze the importance of the nutritionist with regard to the elaboration of food strategies, as well as it was possible to observe several strategies such as the use of play and musicalization in order to bring fruits and vegetables closer to the patient, the exclusion of gluten and casein in the diet to reduce allergic processes and the importance of family interaction in the patient's daily diet.