Brief Report: Decreased Bone Health in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder.

Purpose: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and food selectivity are at increased risk for nutritional deficiencies which could affect bone health.

Methods: We report on four male patients with ASD and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) with significant bone conditions including rickets, vertebral compression fractures, osteopenia, and slipped capital femoral epiphyses.

Results: Each patient was at risk for at least one nutritional deficiency. Two out of four patients had deficiencies in Vitamins A, B12, E, and zinc. Calcium and Vitamin D deficiency were noted in all four. Two out of four patients with Vitamin D deficiency developed rickets.

Conclusion: Provisional evidence suggests that children with ASD and ARFID are at elevated risk for serious adverse bone health outcomes.