Suplementação de micronutrientes para melhora do neurocomportamento em crianças com Transtorno do Espectro Autista: um ensaio clínico randomizado

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), characterized by changes in neurodevelopment, language, social skills and restrictive eating behaviors, has a complex origin associated with genetic and environmental factors. With a global increase in prevalence, ASD has been linked to eating problems in a large proportion of affected children. Significant nutritional deficiencies, related to food selectivity, directly impact metabolism and nutritional absorption. This context motivated the present research, which aims to investigate the impact of magnesium (Mg) and vitamin B6 supplementation on the neurobehavior of children with ASD. The relevance of the study lies in the search for non-pharmacological interventions given the limitations of conventional treatments, proposing the hypothesis of neurobehavioral improvement through supplementation. The study adopted a blinded randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial design following CONSORT guidelines. Participants diagnosed with ICD-11 ASD, encompassing a range of treatment conditions, were included in the study. The trial included 31 recruited children, neurobehavioral assessment used Sensory Profile 2 applied to parents and caregivers at T0 (Start of group supplementation) and T4 (4 months after group supplementation).For 4 months, one group received blind supplementation with vitamin B6 and magnesium, while another group received a placebo. It sought to minimize bias through the random allocation of children into intervention and control groups. The results indicate that magnesium and vitamin B6 supplementation played a significant role in improving oral sensory processes (p= 0.012) and body position (p= 0.045) in children with ASD. However, although there have been advances in specific areas, supplementation has not comprehensively modified the sensory response profile. The micronutrients Mg and vitamin B6 are important in modulating sensory responses in children with ASD. The positive correlation between supplementation and specific improvements suggests a direct influence of these nutrients on specific sensory areas. However, the lack of comprehensive effects points to the complexity of sensory behavior in ASD. This study contributes to the understanding of the role of Mg and vitamin B6 in the behavior of children with ASD. Specific nutritional interventions emerge as a promising strategy, but additional research is needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms, adjust dosages, and evaluate potential side effects. The study paves the way for future investigations and clinical interventions in the search for non-pharmacological approaches to improve neurobehavior in children with ASD.