Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31375014›Full record

ArticleNutrients2019

Dietary and Supplement-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Pediatric Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Melanie S Trudeau, Robyn F Madden, Jill A Parnell, W Ben Gibbard, Jane Shearer

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Nutrients, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 19 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
19citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
4.2field-weighted citation impact, top 5% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

19 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 54 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Autism - A Systematic Review.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Melanie S TrudeauDepartment of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada. mstrudea@ucalgary.ca.
Robyn F MaddenDepartment of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
Jill A ParnellDepartment of Health and Physical Education, Mount Royal University, Calgary, AB T3E 6K6, Canada.
W Ben GibbardDepartment of Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta Children's Hospital, 28 Oki Drive NW, Calgary, AB T3B 6A8, Canada.
Jane ShearerDepartment of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
University of Calgary · CAMount Royal University · CA

Funding

Alberta Innovates - Health Solutions N/A
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Previous literature has shown that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is steadily increasing in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, little data is currently available regarding its use, safety, and efficacy in children with ASD. Thus, the purpose of this study is to describe the use of supplement-based CAM therapies in children between the ages of 4 to 17 years with ASD. This population-based, cross-sectional study evaluated children with ASD regarding supplement use. A total of 210 participants were recruited from a variety of sources including educational and physical activity programs, and social media to complete a questionnaire. Primary caregivers provided information on current supplement based CAM use. Data evaluated the proportion of children that used supplement therapies, the types of supplements used, reasons for use, perceived safety, and demographic factors associated with use (e.g. income, parental education, severity of disorder). Seventy-five percent of children with ASD consumed supplements with multivitamins (77.8%), vitamin D (44.9%), omega 3 (42.5%), probiotics (36.5%), and magnesium (28.1%) as the most prevalent. Several supplements, such as adrenal cortex extract, where product safety has not yet been demonstrated, were also reported. A gluten free diet was the most common specialty diet followed amongst those with restrictions (14.8%). Health care professionals were the most frequent information source regarding supplements; however, 33% of parents reported not disclosing all their child's supplements to their physician. In conclusion, the use of supplement therapies in children with ASD is endemic and highlights the need for further research concerning public health education surrounding safety and efficacy.

Indexed as

Adolescent BehaviorAdolescent DevelopmentChild BehaviorChild DevelopmentDietDietary SupplementsAdolescentAge FactorsAutism Spectrum DisorderChildChild Nutritional Physiological PhenomenaChild, PreschoolComplementary TherapiesCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansAutism spectrum disorderdietary supplementspediatricphysician communication

Identifiers

PMID31375014
PMCPMC6724073
OpenAlexW2966069040

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.