FOOD-AUT Pilot Study Canteen Menus for Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Trial

Official title:

FOOD-AUT Pilot Study Developing Canteen Menus Targeted to Nutritional and Sensory Needs of Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05978895
• Other study ID #: 30062023
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: March 30, 2022
• Est. completion date: March 30, 2023

Study information

• Verified date: July 2023
• Source: University of Pavia
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The FOOD-AUT pilot study aimed to improve the health status of adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) through a nutritional intervention at canteen service. The researchers adapted the canteen menus to the nutritional and sensory needs of this vulnerable population, reducing their food selectivity and improving their dietary diversity with a positive impact on their health.

This project consisted of two phases: first an observational phase (Work Package 1, WP1) and secondarily an interventional phase (Work Package 2, WP2).

Description:

The FOOD-AUT project was a pilot study conducted at the daycare service of Sacra Famiglia Onlus Foundation in Cesano Boscone (Milan, Italy) on adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The project lasted 12 months.

The main objective of the FOOD-AUT pilot study was to positively impact on the health condition of adults with ASD, improving food acceptability and increasing dietary diversity through the development of canteen service menus adapted to their nutritional and sensory needs.

The main outcome was the improvement of food acceptance of the canteen menus by the adults with ASD.

The FOOD-AUT pilot study deliverable were 1) the development of targeted canteen menus for adults with ASD, according to the nutritional and sensory needs; 2) the elaboration of dietary recommendations to customize canteen menus nutritional and sensory needs for individuals with ASD.

Participants of this study were adults (≥ 18 years old) diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (grade 1-2 or 3), admitted to the day care center for disabled persons (CDD) at Sacra Famiglia Fondazione Onlus (Cesano Boscone, Milan, Italy).

Based on the results of WP1, new canteen menus were drafted by qualified dietitians according to the nutritional and sensory needs of the targeted population. The new formulated menus 1) provided adequate caloric and macronutrient content, and 2) proposed with greater frequency foods having more accepted textures, colors, smells and temperatures.

A total of 12 meal evaluation forms for each participant were collected on 3 non-consecutive weekly days (for a total of 4 weeks). Both the qualitative and quantitative forms were filled out by qualified operators, previously trained, of the Sacra Famiglia Onlus Foundation, who assist the participants on a daily basis during lunches eaten at the facility. For the quantitative evaluation of food consumption, a score was assigned to the four possible amounts of dish consumed: zero consumption, ¼ of the plate, ½ of the plate, ¾ of the plate, the whole dish.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 22
• Est. completion date: March 30, 2023
• Est. primary completion date: March 30, 2023
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 65 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age = 18 years old

• Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (grade 1-2 or grade 3)

• Admission to the daycare service of Sacra Famiglia Onlus Foundation in Cesano Boscone (Milan, Italy)

• Informed consent signed by their caregivers

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age < 18 years old

• Not diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (grade 1-2 or grade 3)

• Not admitted to the daycare service of Sacra Famiglia Onlus Foundation in Cesano Boscone (Milan, Italy)

• Informed consent not signed by their caregivers

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Autistic Disorder
• Child Development Disorders, Pervasive

Intervention

Other:
• Targeted canteen menus
The nutritional intervention consisted in the development of targeted menus aiming at the needs of individuals with ASD and in assessing their acceptance of the targeted menus. The revision of the standard menus was carried 1) balancing energy and macronutrient content, according to LARN 2014; 2) promoting adequate weekly food frequencies consumption and portions, to provide an adequate and sustainable menus according to CREA 2018; 3) adapting the sensory characteristics of the foods offered to the sensory needs of individuals with ASD. The acceptance of the targeted menus by the enrolled population was evaluated through meal evaluation forms. These results were compared with the ones collected during the first observational phase (WP1). In fact, referring to the results of WP1, new canteen menus were drafted according to the nutritional and sensory needs of the population.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Italy	Sacra Famiglia	Cesano Boscone	Milan

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Pavia

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Italy, 

References & Publications (1)

Conti MV, Breda C, Basilico S, Luzzi A, Voto L, Santero S, De Filippo G, Cena H. Dietary recommendations to customize canteen menus according to the nutritional and sensory needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Eat Weight Disord. 2023 Aug 1;28(1):66. doi: 10.1007/s40519-023-01590-z. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Food acceptance of canteen menus by adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder	Meal evaluation forms (score range for each item: 0-1; the score number is directly proportional to the amount of the dish consumed)	4 weeks (WP1); 4 weeks (WP2)