Exploring the effect of diet programs on the behavior of Sudanese children with autism and the prevalence and association of gastrointestinal symptoms: a multi-center cross-sectional study.
In Sudanese children with autism, family income predicted fewer GI and behavior problems, but no diet program made a difference.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team visited six autism centers across Sudan. They asked parents of children with autism about special diets and stomach problems.
They also recorded each child’s behavior and family income. Then they checked if any diet plan was linked to fewer GI or behavior issues.
What they found
No special diet plan showed a clear benefit. Kids from richer homes had fewer stomach and behavior problems, but food choices did not explain the gap.
In short, money mattered more than menu.
How this fits with other research
Acosta et al. (2024) saw U.S. toddlers gain language and sensory skills on gluten-free, meat-and-veggie diets. The Sudan study saw zero effect. The clash is likely about design: Alexander tracked the same kids before and after diets, while Sudan only took one snapshot.
Shi et al. (2026) pooled many trials and found tiny but real gains from diet supplements, especially vitamin D. Their review would include Sudan if it had been an experiment, but it was only a survey.
Winburn et al. (2014) showed one in five preschoolers already try gluten-free eating. The new data warn families not to expect quick wins from those choices.
Why it matters
You can now tell parents that special diets are not magic bullets. Screen for GI pain and treat it medically. Also ask about family resources—money stress may show up as “behavior” in your data. Save coaching time for evidence-based teaching, not restrictive meal plans.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
<h4>Background and aims</h4>Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social difficulties, speech and nonverbal communication issues, and restricted behaviors. Nutritional issues, such as food allergies and intolerances, can affect children with ASD. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of diet programs on ASD behavior and gastrointestinal symptoms, which would be considered as a starting point to increase the family's knowledge about how to practice healthy and suitable dieting for their children.<h4>Materials and methods</h4>The study was a cross-sectional observational study on 45 children with an autism spectrum disorder in four centers aged 2-18 in Khartoum state. Data was collected through an interview questionnaire, which included sociodemographic, diet, gastrointestinal, and behavioral assessments. The data was analyzed using SPSS to find the correlation between the various variables. Independent <i>t</i>-test, Analysis of Variance, and Mann-Whitney test were used in univariant analysis to assess the association between study variables, while multiple linear regression was used in multivariant analysis for the same purpose.<h4>Results</h4>The study involved a large number of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with 80% being male and 73.3% being school-aged. Most had parents as guardians and 71.1% were in intermediate financial status. About 20% were overweight or obese, and 57.8% did not have a specific diet program. Food selectivity was prevalent, with 22.7% having allergies to milk and wheat. ASD children experienced vomiting, gastric reflux, abdominal pain, and changes in stool characteristics. A significant link was found between financial status, behavioral status and gastrointestinal changes. High financial status was significantly different from intermediate and low statuses based on behavioral changes. However, no significant association was found in multivariant analysis.<h4>Conclusion</h4>The study found that ASD children generally have good nutritional health, with a higher degree of dietary selection. The financial status of guardians significantly influenced behavioral and gastrointestinal changes in the children. Further interventional studies are recommended to assess the direct impact of diet programs on these symptoms.
, 2024 · doi:10.1097/ms9.0000000000002526