Anica Klockars1, Tapasya Pal1, Allen S Levine2, Pawel K Olszewski1,3,4. 1. Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. 2. Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA. aslevine@umn.edu. 3. Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA. 4. Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In research on autism spectrum disorder (ASD), cognitive, speech- and anxiety-related impairments have been the focus of the majority of studies. One consistently reported ASD symptom that has rarely attracted attention is disordered appetite. The goal of this paper is to assess whether ASD-related dysregulation of food intake impacts consumption of palatable foods, including sugar. RECENT FINDINGS: Aberrant neural processing at the reward system level is at least partially responsible for excessive intake of palatable tastants, including sugar. Impaired oxytocin (OT) signaling likely contributes to the magnitude of this overconsumption. Since intake for reward is generally elevated in individuals with ASD, one strategy to curb sugar overconsumption might utilize presentation of alternative palatable food choices that are more nutritionally adequate than sucrose. Furthermore, OT, which is clinically tested to alleviate other ASD symptoms, might be an effective tool to curb overconsumption of sugar, as well as - likely - of other excessively ingested palatable foods, especially those that have sweet taste.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In research on autism spectrum disorder (ASD), cognitive, speech- and anxiety-related impairments have been the focus of the majority of studies. One consistently reported ASD symptom that has rarely attracted attention is disordered appetite. The goal of this paper is to assess whether ASD-related dysregulation of food intake impacts consumption of palatable foods, including sugar. RECENT FINDINGS: Aberrant neural processing at the reward system level is at least partially responsible for excessive intake of palatable tastants, including sugar. Impaired oxytocin (OT) signaling likely contributes to the magnitude of this overconsumption. Since intake for reward is generally elevated in individuals with ASD, one strategy to curb sugar overconsumption might utilize presentation of alternative palatable food choices that are more nutritionally adequate than sucrose. Furthermore, OT, which is clinically tested to alleviate other ASD symptoms, might be an effective tool to curb overconsumption of sugar, as well as - likely - of other excessively ingested palatable foods, especially those that have sweet taste.
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