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Emerging Insights in Clinical Nutrition: Assessment Tools, Personalized Approaches, and Metabolic Health (Poster Theater Flash Session 12)

(PTFS12-02-25) Incidental Findings From the Personalized Nutrition, Education, Assessment, “Real” Food, and Lifestyle Support (PEARL) Study for Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Monday, June 2, 2025
4:04 PM – 4:08 PM ET
Location: South Hall B (The Hub) - Poster Theater / Poster Board Number PT-2
Objectives: A 12-week pilot study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of a personalized nutrition and lifestyle intervention in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We describe the behavioral, sensory, dietary, and clinical outcomes.

Methods: The intervention included six virtual nutrition education sessions, weekly counseling/ adherence checks, recommendations to eat certified organic, minimally processed foods, and a tailored natural multivitamin-mineral supplement. Behavioral surveys, dietary recalls, feedback surveys, and laboratory samples (blood, urine, saliva, and stool) were collected at baseline and end-line, including food sensitivities. The Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test was used to compare differences.

Results: Of the 36 participants (mean age 15±6 years, 78% male), 35 completed the study. Baseline data for food sensitivity (n=34) revealed sensitivities to whole wheat (77%), gluten (76.1%), gliadin (82.5%), casein (30%), whey (39%), and cow’s milk (36%) among others. These did not significantly improve after 12 weeks. Results show significant improvements comparing baseline medians to endline: total cholesterol (p < 0.01), LDL cholesterol (p < 0.001), and vitamin D (p < 0.001) (albumin (p=0.09) and HDL cholesterol (p=0.07) were marginal); all aberrant behavior checklist (ABC-2) subscales (p < 0.01); the behavioral pediatric feeding assessment scale (BPFAS) total frequency (p < 0.01); all social responsiveness scale (SRS-2) subscales except awareness (p < 0.05 – p< 0.001); indigestion, diarrhea, and constipation on the gastrointestinal symptoms rating scale (GSRS) (p < 0.05); and in the sensory experiences questionnaire (SEQ), sensory response pattern (p < 0.01), nonsocial context (p < 0.001), auditory (p < 0.001), visual (p < 0.05), and vestibular/proprioceptive (p < 0.05) subscales. The healthy eating index (HEI) score for diet quality also significantly improved (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: The findings suggest personalized nutrition and lifestyle interventions can improve behavioral, sensory, nutrient, and metabolic measures in individuals with ASD. More rigorous studies are warranted to corroborate these findings.

Funding Sources: Community Health Partnerships Trailblazer Award, Indiana CTSI & Ingestive Behavioral Research Center Award, Purdue University