Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40397941›Full record

ArticleJMIR research protocols2025

Improving Meal Acceptance of Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder (AUT-MENU Project): Protocol for a Bicentric Intervention Study.

Maria Vittoria Conti, Chiara Breda, Sara Basilico, Ilaria Zambon, Angeliki Sofroniou, Stefania Ruggeri, Maria Luisa Scalvedi, Hellas Cena

Registry-linked trialAbstract readClinical Trial Protocol
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR research protocols, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06266377 (AUT-MENU), which is not on this map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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.

NCT06266377 naunknown statusnot on this map

AUT-MENU: Improving Meal Experience of Subjects With Autism Spectrum Disorder

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of PaviaRan2024 to 2025Enrolled200ConditionsAutism Spectrum DisorderArmsAdministration of menus of collective catering adapted to the sensory and nutritional needs of subjects with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Nutrition education course aimed at caregivers of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Observational
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

8 authors.

Maria Vittoria Conti *Laboratory of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-8120-7091
Chiara Breda *Laboratory of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.ORCID 0009-0008-1828-9021
Sara BasilicoLaboratory of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-6860-6429
Ilaria ZambonLaboratory of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.ORCID 0009-0003-4926-738X
Angeliki SofroniouLaboratory of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-9862-5719
Stefania RuggeriResearch Centre for Food and Nutrition, CREA, Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-0032-7567
Maria Luisa ScalvediResearch Centre for Food and Nutrition, CREA, Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-4129-7341
Hellas CenaLaboratory of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5752-6199

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIndividuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often exhibit low dietary diversity due to food selectivity, leading to various forms of malnutrition, such as obesity or micronutrient deficiencies.

objectiveThe main objective of the AUT-MENU project is to improve meal acceptance among individuals with ASD. A secondary goal is to evaluate the effectiveness of a nutrition education course for parents of enrolled participants to reduce food selectivity.

methodsThe study is a bicentric intervention conducted in 3 care centers (Pavia and Milan) and 1 secondary school (Rome), involving approximately 200 participants with ASD aged 3 to 35 years. The study consists of an observational phase (T0) and an intervention phase (T1). At T0, biographical data, clinical characteristics, and dietary patterns of participants are collected. Based on T0 findings and existing nutritional recommendations for individuals with ASD, targeted menus are developed and tested. At T1, the same assessment tools used at T0 will be applied to evaluate intervention effects. Additionally, a nutrition education course for caregivers will be implemented between T0 and T1, with a pre- and postcourse knowledge questionnaire to assess its effectiveness.

resultsDue to different timelines depending on the centers and schools involved, participant enrollment and data collection will take place at different times between Pavia, Milan, and Rome. In September 2024, enrollment was held in the Pavia and Milan care centers for a total of 74 participants enrolled. In Rome, the enrollment phase has not yet started; activities are expected to be carried out similar to those in Pavia and Milan.

conclusionsThe AUT-MENU study is expected to yield significant insights and improvements in meal acceptance among individuals with ASD, particularly through the introduction of targeted menus in collective catering settings both in care centers and schools.

trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT06266377; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06266377. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/57507.

Indexed as

Autism Spectrum DisorderFeeding BehaviorMealsAdolescentAdultChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansItalyMaleParentsYoung Adultautism spectrum disordercollective cateringfood selectivitynutritionparent training

Identifiers

PMID40397941
PMCPMC12138289

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Registered trials

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.