TY - JOUR
T1 - Sensorimotor integration, nutrition and gut microbiota in Ecuadorian autistic children – “Proyecto Wiñay"
T2 - a research protocol for a comparative cross-sectional study
AU - Yago, Xiana
AU - Astudillo Skliarova, Igor Eduardo
AU - Abril Ulloa, Sandra Victoria
AU - Carpio Arias, Tannia Valeria
AU - Vinueza Veloz, María Fernanda
PY - 2026/4/29
Y1 - 2026/4/29
N2 - Background: Autistic children experience disproportionately high rates of malnutrition compared to non-autistic (NA) peers. Sensorimotor integration differences (SMD), prevalent in 69–95% of autistic individuals, are hypothesized to drive this disparity. SMD contributes to core autistic traits that exacerbate feeding difficulties (e.g., food selectivity), potentially leading to malnutrition and gut dysbiosis. Current caregiver-reported SMD assessments lack validity in autistic populations and are prone to cultural and socioeconomic biases, limiting insight into nutritional outcomes.Objective: To investigate relationships between objectively measured SMD, dietary patterns, nutritional status, and gut microbiota composition in autistic children versus NA peers.Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study will recruit 100 autistic children and adolescents (aged 3–17 years) and 200 age-/sex-matched NA peers (including 100 with developmental disorders other than autism). Autism severity will be assessed using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale; NA peers will be screened with the Autism Spectrum Quotient-10. Dietary intake will be evaluated via three 24-hour dietary recalls, supplemented by questionnaires on socioeconomic status, health, and medications. Nutritional status (anthropometry, bioimpedance) and gut microbiota composition and diversity will be assessed. SMD proxies (sensory gating, sensory adaptation) will be measured using a smartphone application.Analysis: Group comparisons will employ multivariate regression models, adjusting for age, sex, socioeconomic status and medication use. We hypothesize significant between-group differences in dietary patterns, nutritional status, microbiota profiles, and SMD measures. Objectively measured SMD in autistic children and adolescents is expected to correlate with symptom severity, dietary patterns, and differences in microbiota composition and diversity.
AB - Background: Autistic children experience disproportionately high rates of malnutrition compared to non-autistic (NA) peers. Sensorimotor integration differences (SMD), prevalent in 69–95% of autistic individuals, are hypothesized to drive this disparity. SMD contributes to core autistic traits that exacerbate feeding difficulties (e.g., food selectivity), potentially leading to malnutrition and gut dysbiosis. Current caregiver-reported SMD assessments lack validity in autistic populations and are prone to cultural and socioeconomic biases, limiting insight into nutritional outcomes.Objective: To investigate relationships between objectively measured SMD, dietary patterns, nutritional status, and gut microbiota composition in autistic children versus NA peers.Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study will recruit 100 autistic children and adolescents (aged 3–17 years) and 200 age-/sex-matched NA peers (including 100 with developmental disorders other than autism). Autism severity will be assessed using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale; NA peers will be screened with the Autism Spectrum Quotient-10. Dietary intake will be evaluated via three 24-hour dietary recalls, supplemented by questionnaires on socioeconomic status, health, and medications. Nutritional status (anthropometry, bioimpedance) and gut microbiota composition and diversity will be assessed. SMD proxies (sensory gating, sensory adaptation) will be measured using a smartphone application.Analysis: Group comparisons will employ multivariate regression models, adjusting for age, sex, socioeconomic status and medication use. We hypothesize significant between-group differences in dietary patterns, nutritional status, microbiota profiles, and SMD measures. Objectively measured SMD in autistic children and adolescents is expected to correlate with symptom severity, dietary patterns, and differences in microbiota composition and diversity.
KW - Autism
KW - Children
KW - Ecuador
KW - Gut microbiota
KW - Malnutrition
KW - Neurobehavior
KW - Sensorimotor
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1721567
U2 - 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1721567
DO - 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1721567
M3 - Artículo
SN - 1664-0640
VL - 17
SP - 1
EP - 14
JO - Frontiers in Psychiatry
JF - Frontiers in Psychiatry
ER -