Advisory

Autism

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects an individual's social interaction, communication, and behavior. This disorder typically manifests in early childhood and can vary in severity. The causes of autism are not fully understood, but scientists believe that genetic and environmental factors play a role. Autism is often associated with other health issues such as gastrointestinal problems, epilepsy, sleep disorders, anxiety, and depression.

Nutrition can play an important role in managing some symptoms of autism and related health issues. Some studies suggest that dietary interventions, such as gluten-free or casein-free diets, may help improve behavior and social skills in some children with autism. It is also important to ensure an adequate intake of key nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, which are essential for healthy brain development.

Good day, Mr. Magister,

I would like to ask how you would supplement calcium for a 3-year-old child with autism, for whom a gluten-free diet and the exclusion of dairy products, due to their casein content, are recommended to improve their condition. Such a young child probably won't eat almonds, cashews, poppy seeds, too many legumes, etc.?

Thank you very much for your response.

The described situation and similar ones do not always end unhappily, nor do they necessarily indicate a bigger problem. While ensuring sufficient intake of any nutrients presents a challenge in terms of values related to RI, it does not mean it is a condition or necessity. Reference intake values are always related to the needs of an averaged population, and it is known that the body can thrive even with lower intake levels of some of them. Calcium is a typical example of such a situation - there is an effort to increase its intake due to concerns about poor bone development (which, of course, can occur not only in adults in relation to the development of osteopenia or osteoporosis but also in young children whose skeletal structures require a certain amount of calcium and protein for proper development), but in reality, the total amount on the plate is not a guarantee of meeting the required dose. The key aspect is the amount of the substance that can be absorbed from the diet into the body, and also the proportion of the total absorbed amount that the body can effectively metabolize plays a role.

In practice, if you know that due to health limitations, you are unable to provide the generally required doses of calcium and you do not want or cannot supplement, you still have the option to adjust your diet to target those factors that influence the absorption of the substance from the intestines and its subsequent metabolism in the body. For calcium, this includes a well-functioning gut microbiota, which (not only through the production of vitamin K2) influences the level of absorption, as well as "monitoring" the correct ratios with other elements (magnesium, phosphorus).

Questions answered by

Mgr. Martin Jelinek
Lecturer and author of the educational system

Nutrition educator, lecturer, and author of the educational system and the ZOF learning application.

Mgr. Martin Jelínek has been systematically involved in nutrition education since 1999. He is the founder of ATAC, the educational company behind NutriCourses, and the author of an educational system focused on nutrition, healthy lifestyle, and the practical application of nutrition knowledge.

He graduated from the Faculty of Science at Masaryk University in Brno. Throughout his professional career, he has combined nutrition, education, and the practical application of acquired knowledge. His educational system also includes the ZOF (Zone of Optimal Functioning) learning application, where students turn theory into practical work with meal plans.

In 2007, he launched the first intake of a six-month course focused on the education of nutrition advisors. Over time, this course became the foundation for the further development of the educational system and a range of specialised courses.

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